Breaking: Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has claimed that the country’s military killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief, in overnight airstrikes.

Katz said the strikes are part of a broader effort to target Iran’s senior leadership. “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to continue hunting down the leadership of the regime of terror and oppression in Iran,” he stated. “US President Trump spoke about the high rate of turnover of Iran’s leadership… we will update him that the high rate of turnover continues and is even increasing following the assassination of two of the most senior remaining leaders.”

Iran has yet to confirm whether Larijani and Soleimani were killed. State media said an official update would be issued soon.

Ali Larijani, appointed in August 2025 as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), was a close adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and represented him on the council.

Larijani previously served as Speaker of Iran’s Parliament from 2008 to 2020 and as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator between 2005 and 2007. His brother, Sadegh Larijani, is also an influential figure, chairing the Expediency Council, Iran’s top arbitration body.

The strikes come amid escalating hostilities in the region. Iranian missiles and drones targeted the US embassy in Baghdad in the second such attack of the war, while the United Arab Emirates briefly closed its airspace due to threats from Iran before reopening it. Several international airlines, including British Airways, have suspended some Middle East flights due to security concerns.