TEHRAN: Iran has confirmed the deaths of senior official Ali Larijani and Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani, following earlier claims by Israel that the two were killed in recent strikes.
In a statement reported by Mehr News Agency, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced the killing of Ali Larijani, who served as its secretary. The council paid tribute to him, describing his death as martyrdom after decades of service to the country and the Islamic Revolution.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the death of Soleimani, who headed the Basij, a key internal paramilitary force.
Ali Larijani is among the most senior Iranian figures killed since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict. He previously held several prominent roles, including serving as speaker of parliament and leading Iran’s nuclear negotiations with Western powers.
He was last seen in public days earlier at an Al-Quds Day rally in Tehran, where he appeared alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian in support of Palestinians.
The killings mark a significant escalation in tensions, as senior political and military figures continue to be targeted amid the intensifying confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.