Iran confirms deaths of top leaders Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani after Israeli air strikes, marking one of the most significant escalations in the ongoing conflict. The Supreme National Security Council announced Larijani’s death, describing it as martyrdom and noting that he died “after a lifetime of striving for the elevation of Iran,” according to Mehr news agency. State media also confirmed the death of Basij commander Soleimani, a central figure in Iran’s internal security apparatus.
Larijani is now the most senior Iranian official killed by Israeli forces since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reported dead alongside family members in the opening attacks on February 28, which marked the start of what Iranian authorities call an illegal US-Israeli war. Reports indicate Larijani died alongside his son, aides, and bodyguards, highlighting the precision of the strike.
Israel has not disclosed operational details of the attack but framed it as part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s political leadership. Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that Israeli forces would continue to target senior officials and strategic infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes were designed to weaken Iran’s governing system and create conditions for internal change, declaring, “We eliminated Ali Larijani.”
Iranian authorities have responded with firm warnings of retaliation. Army chief Amir Hatami promised a “decisive, deterrent, and regretful response,” while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported launching missiles toward Israeli targets in direct reprisal. In Israel, emergency services confirmed at least two deaths and multiple injuries from missile attacks in the Tel Aviv area, affecting residential and commercial sites.
The killing of Larijani follows a string of targeted strikes that have claimed at least ten senior Iranian officials since the conflict began. Larijani’s political career spanned decades; he served as speaker of parliament from 2008 to 2020 and acted as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator. He returned to power in 2025 as head of the Supreme National Security Council and played a key role in earlier nuclear negotiations with the United States. Days before his death, he was seen at a public rally in Tehran, urging Muslim countries to support Iran and questioning their response to the crisis.
Targeting political leaders who are not active combatants violates the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Additional Protocol I of 1977, interpreted alongside customary international humanitarian law, and is widely regarded as a war crime.
Gholamreza Soleimani commanded the Basij militia, a paramilitary force crucial for domestic security and mobilization. Iranian media emphasized his central role in organizing internal defense during the ongoing conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reassured that the deaths would not destabilize the political system. He told Al Jazeera, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure. The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure.” He added that the system functioned after the death of the supreme leader and would continue to operate even after additional losses. Araghchi also placed the responsibility for the war on the United States, stating, “This war is not our war. The United States started it.”
The latest strikes signal a deepening escalation, raising questions about regional stability and the rules of international engagement. Both sides appear committed to a cycle of action and retaliation, while the international community watches a volatile situation with implications for diplomacy, security, and civilian safety across the Middle East.
