Assassination of Ali Larijani

Assassination of Ali Larijani
Part of the 2026 Iran war
Larijani on 22 August 2025, 30 weeks before his death
Type
Location
Tehran, Iran

35°41′31″N 51°23′55″E / 35.6919°N 51.3986°E / 35.6919; 51.3986
Planned by Israel
TargetAli Larijani
Date17 March 2026 (2026-03-17)
Executed by Israeli Air Force
OutcomeSuccessful
Casualties3+ (including Larijani) killed
Location within Iran

On 17 March 2026, Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was assassinated in Tehran as part of a series of Israeli airstrikes aimed at high-ranking Iranian officials. His death occurred as part of the 2026 Iran war, which began on 28 February with airstrikes on various Iranian targets by the United States and Israel. Larijani was the number one target and most senior official to be killed after the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.[1]

Background

Having been appointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council by President Masoud Pezeshkian in August 2025,[2][3] Ali Larijani was described by numerous newspapers as the most powerful man or the de facto leader of Iran in the lead-up to the 2026 Iran war.[4][5][6] Larijani presided over the crackdown on the 2025–2026 Iranian protests and the subsequent massacres of Iranian protestors by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), often being referred to as the mastermind behind the massacres under the orders of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.[7] According to The New York Times, Larijani effectively ran Iran since January 2026 and was in "charge of crushing, with lethal force, the recent protests demanding the end of Islamic rule."[8] As a result, the United States imposed new sanctions on Larijani on 15 January for repressing protestors.[9] Following the assassination of Ali Khamenei on 28 February by Israel and the United States, Larijani said that the Iranian government will not "leave Trump alone."[10]

Assassination

According to senior defense sources, Larijani was experienced at avoiding detection and took several precautions to avoid being detected by Israel, such as by moving between several secret locations since the war began. Consequently, significant intelligence and operational resources were allocated into locating him.[1]

On the night between 16–17 March 2026, Larijani was the target of an Israeli airstrike.[11] Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Larijani was killed.[12] Iran confirmed hours later that Larijani was killed in the attack.[13] His son Morteza and the head of his office Alireza Bayat were also killed in the strike.[14] Fars News Agency reported that he was killed by a U.S.-Israeli strike as he was visiting his daughter in the outskirts of eastern Tehran.[15] Israeli intelligence officials on the other hand stated that they were able to track his movements after being tipped off by Tehran's residents and bombed him while he was meeting with other officials in a hideout in Tehran's outskirts.[16][17] The commander of Iran's internal Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, was also killed in a separate Israeli airstrike on the same night.[18]

Retaliation

On 18 March 2026, Iran retaliated by launching a missile barrage at Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv, killing two Israeli civilians. The IRGC said it launched missiles at central Israel "in revenge for the blood of martyr Dr Ali Larijani and his companions."[19]

Analysis

According to analysts, while the assassination of Larijani weakened the Islamic Republic, it would significantly hinder efforts to bring the Iran war to a negotiated end.[20] Often described as a pragmatist, Larijani was a diplomatic figure central to shaping Iran's strategic decisions. Therefore, Larijani's sudden removal leaves the issues of the Iran war, the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, and the Iranian nuclear program unresolved and transfers them to a successor facing a fragile situation. Remarks by President Pezeskhkian have indicated that the Iranian Armed Forces would have broad authority to act if the senior leadership was decapitated.[21] According to Iranian conservative political analyst Hatef Salehi, Larijani's "absence at this critical and dangerous juncture will cast a deep shadow over diplomacy to end the war and decrease the chances of finding a low-cost political solution to end the war." Former Iranian MP Ali-Akbar Mousavi Khoeini said that "Larijani was viewed as a moderate politician, and he was expected to bring some level of change. In the end not only could he not deliver, but he became a victim himself."[22]

Reactions

  • Iran: The Supreme National Security Council confirmed the death of its chief Larijani, stating "after a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honorably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service." Commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army, Amir Hatami, vowed to launch a "decisive and regrettable" retaliation for the assassination.[23] Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei expressed sorrow for the killing of Larijani, describing him as a "learned, far-sighted, intelligent and committed" figure, and said the assassination demonstrated the "hatred of the enemies of Islam."[24] Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the futility of targeting Iranian leaders, stating "the Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions," and "even the leader was martyred, yet the system continued its work and immediately provided a replacement." He added that "We did not start it. The United States started it and is responsible for all the consequences of this war."[25]
  • Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Larijani's death, describing him as the head of a group that "effectively runs Iran," expressing hope that undermining the Iranian regime in this manner would give "the Iranian people an opportunity to remove it."[26] Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell."[23]
  • Russia: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the killing of Larijani and "the murder and liquidation of representatives of the leadership of sovereign and independent Iran."[27]
  • Turkey: Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan condemned "the political assassinations perpetrated by Israel, including those of Iranian statesmen and politicians," stating that they "constitute illegal acts contrary to the laws of war."[23]
  • United States: President Donald Trump lauded the killing, referring to him as "the man who was responsible for the killing of 32,000 people."[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Number one target: How Israel assassinated Iran's 'de-facto leader' Larijani | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  2. ^ "Ali Larijani reappointed secretary of Iran's top security body". Reuters. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  3. ^ Orla Ryan (28 May 2008). "Ahmadinejad rival elected as Iranian speaker". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Ruthless leader, brilliant philosopher: Ali Larijani, Iran's most powerful man". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2026-03-16. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  5. ^ "Iran's 'suave' de facto leader the real power behind Mojtaba". The Australian.
  6. ^ "Ali Larijani; A Key Security Figure in Repression and the Survival of the Ruling Regime in Iran - Iran HRM". 2026-03-17. Archived from the original on 2026-03-18. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  7. ^ "Ali Larijani Masterminded the Massacre says Former Official". IranWire. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  8. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (22 February 2026). "Inside Iran's Preparations for War and Plans for Survival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  9. ^ Fatima Hussein (15 January 2026). "US sanctions Iranian officials accused of repressing protests against the government". AP News. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Iran won't leave Trump alone for killing Khamenei, Larijani says". Iran International. 7 March 2026. Archived from the original on 8 March 2026. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Israeli media say military targeted top security chief Larijani". Iran International. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Iran's top security chief Larijani is dead, Israeli defence minister Katz says". Iran International. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Iran confirms security chief Larijani, Basij commander Soleimani killed". Al Jazeera. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 18 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  14. ^ Reals, Tucker; Tyab, Imtiaz (17 March 2026). "Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, was killed in an airstrike. Here's why his death is so significant". CBS News. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Ali Larijani, Iran's ultimate backroom powerbroker, killed in Israeli airstrike". Reuters. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Israeli official says tip from Tehran residents helped enable Larijani strike". Iran International. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  17. ^ Lieber, Dov; Faucon, Benoit; Raice, Shayndi (17 March 2026). "Israel Is Hunting Down Iranian Regime Members in Their Hideouts, One by One". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Iran's Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani killed: IRGC". Al Jazeera. 17 March 2026. Archived from the original on 17 March 2026. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Elderly couple killed in Iranian revenge strike on Israel". The Telegraph. 18 March 2026.
  20. ^ "The killing of Ali Larijani weakens Iran—but at a cost". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  21. ^ "Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran's leadership". BBC News. 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  22. ^ Fassihi, Farnaz (2026-03-17). "Ali Larijani Killing Fuels Anxiety in Iran". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  23. ^ a b c Wintour, Patrick; Tondo, Lorenzo (2026-03-17). "Iran's national security council confirms death of its chief, Ali Larijani". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  24. ^ null (2026-03-18). "Update from Sanam Mahoozi". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  25. ^ "Killing of Larijani will not destabilise Iranian political system: Minister". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  26. ^ "Update from Aaron Boxerman". The New York Times. 2026-03-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  27. ^ "Update from Paul Sonne". The New York Times. 2026-03-18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  28. ^ "Update from David E. Sanger". The New York Times. 2026-03-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
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