The Digester

Israel says Iran security chief Ali Larijani has been killed; Iran has not confirmed

Mar 17th 2026

Israel says it killed Iran's top security official Ali Larijani and separately named a Basij commander as killed, while Tehran has yet to confirm either claim.

  • Israel's Defence Minister Katz announced the assassination of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, citing precise intelligence.
  • Iranian authorities have not confirmed Katz's claim and have not issued an official response as of now.
  • Israel's military separately posted that a strike in Tehran killed Gholam Reza Soleimani, identified as commander of the Basij militia, but Iran has not verified this either.
  • Ali Larijani is a longtime Iranian political figure who previously led nuclear talks and served as parliament speaker, according to public records.
  • If verified, the killings would represent a major escalation, but independent confirmation and details about responsibility and method remain lacking.

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