TEHRAN — Veteran Iranian politician Ali Larijani, 67, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, Iranian media reported on Tuesday. Israel’s Defence Minister confirmed the assassination. Larijani, a key architect of Iran’s security policy, was a close adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and one of the most influential figures in the Islamic Republic.
Born in 1958 in Najaf, Iraq, into a prominent clerical family, Larijani served as a Revolutionary Guards commander during the Iran-Iraq War, head of national broadcasting, speaker of parliament for 12 years, and twice led the Supreme National Security Council. He played a central role in nuclear negotiations, regional diplomacy, and internal security.
Following the US-Israeli strikes on February 28, Larijani condemned the attacks, warning against attempts to destabilize Iran. Analysts say his death marks a major shift in Tehran’s power dynamics, with the Revolutionary Guards consolidating influence in the post-Khamenei era.
