Israeli defense minister Israel Katz confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was killed in overnight strikes. Larijani was the highest-ranking surviving Iranian security official after the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top leaders.
Larijani had served as parliament speaker, chief nuclear negotiator, and Revolutionary Guards officer. He was deeply trusted by the late Khamenei and uniquely positioned to coordinate military, intelligence, and political strategy - including quiet outreach to Washington.
His death eliminates one of the few insiders who understood both escalation thresholds and de-escalation pathways. It also deprives new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei of a critical institutional memory keeper.
Israel also announced the killing of Basij commander Gholam Reza Soleimani. The U.S. previously offered $10 million for information leading to Larijani’s capture.