Iran confirms assassination of security chief Larijani and Basij commander Soleimani

(Patria) - High-ranking Iranian security official Ali Larijani and commander of the Iranian internal militia Basij, Gholamreza Soleimani, have been killed, Iranian state media confirmed several hours after Israel claimed to have killed the two, Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement carried by the semi-official Mehr News Agency, the country's Supreme National Security Council confirmed the assassination of its secretary Larijani.

"After a life spent fighting for the elevation of Iran and the Islamic Revolution, he finally achieved his long-cherished wish, answered the call of truth, and proudly achieved the blessed act of martyrdom on the front," the council's statement, carried by Mehr, said.

The news came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed Soleimani's assassination.

Larijani is the highest-ranking Iranian official killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran since former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the war on February 28.

Larijani was last seen in public on Friday, where he attended a rally in support of Palestinians on Al-Quds Day in Tehran, alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian.

For years, he has been a key political figure in the Iranian hierarchy, and at one time led the nation's nuclear negotiations with the West. He was also previously the speaker of the Iranian parliament.

Israel welcomed the assassinations

Israeli leaders welcomed the assassinations of high-ranking Iranian officials, with Israeli Defense Minister Katz stating on Tuesday that "the regime's leaders are being killed and their capabilities are being destroyed."

"Our military is working with force to continue to attack and destroy missile capabilities, as well as strategic infrastructure," he wrote on social media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Larijani's assassination was part of an effort to provide a way for Iranians to overthrow their government.

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Institute for Graduate Studies in Doha, said the United States and Israel are playing a "whack-a-mole game" as they target Iranian leaders.

"There is always another leader... so I don't think this will suggest any collapse of the Iranian regime," he told Al Jazeera.

"Nevertheless, this is very significant symbolically and psychologically."

Larijani emphasized the continuation of the struggle

In a message on Monday, Larijani reiterated that Iran would not back down in its fight against the US and Israel.

Larijani called on Muslims worldwide to unite, saying, with a few exceptions, Islamic countries had not supported Iran against what he called "treacherous aggression."

"Is the stance of certain Islamic governments not contrary to the saying of the Prophet (Muhammad): 'Whoever hears a person calling: 'O Muslims!' and does not respond to him, is not a Muslim?'" he said.

He went on to justify Iran's attacks across the region as a response to US-Israeli attacks, which Gulf countries have described as blatant aggression on their sovereignty, seemingly warning that there is no middle ground in the ongoing conflicts. "Whose side are you on?" Larijani asked.

Larijani then said that Iran does not seek dominance over its neighbors.

"The unity of the Islamic nation, if realized with full strength, is capable of guaranteeing security, progress, and independence for all its states," he said.