BREAKING: Israel Says It Killed Iran's Security Chief Ali Larijani — The Most Senior Leader Eliminated Since Khamenei

🚨 BREAKING — Tuesday March 17, 2026

Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official and one of the regime's most powerful figures, was killed in overnight strikes, Israel said Tuesday. (Daily Mail)

👤 Who Was Ali Larijani?

Larijani was officially the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, but was considered by many to be the country's de facto leader after Khamenei's death. He comes from a political dynasty that many referred to as Iran's equivalent of the Kennedys. (Daily Mail)

After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, Larijani functioned as the de facto leader of the Iranian regime, the IDF said. (Times Herald Online)

💥 What Happened?

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, has been "eliminated," along with the commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij unit, Gholamreza Soleimani. Iran has yet to comment on the claim. (The New York Times)

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee described Larijani as "one of the oldest and most prominent figures at the top of the pyramid of the Iranian terrorism regime" and said his death "constitutes a further blow to the Iranian regime's abilities to manage and coordinate hostile activity against the State of Israel." (Times Herald Online)

🤔 Iran's Response

Iranian state media published a handwritten note by Larijani, though it was not clear whether it was intended as proof of life of the senior official. Larijani's note commemorates 84 Iranian sailors whose funeral is expected on Tuesday, killed in a US attack on their naval ship in international waters. (The New York Times)

⚔️ War Escalation

Israeli officials say two more top Iranian figures were killed in strikes overnight, including the Islamic Republic's top security official Ali Larijani. Those attacks have kept crude oil prices hovering around $100 a barrel, and U.S. gas prices on the rise. The Pentagon says more than 200 U.S. service members have been injured in the Middle East during the war, and 13 have been killed. (Variety)

🌊 Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Iraq said it was in contact with Iran to try to arrange passage for some of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. "Communications are underway with the relevant authorities to authorize the passage of certain oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in order that we can resume our exports," the Iraqi Oil Minister said. (Variety)

🇺🇸 Trump Reacts

Speaking at a lunch on Capitol Hill honoring the Irish prime minister, President Trump said he consulted his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, about taking an "excursion" in Iran, saying it was "not an easy decision to make" to intervene. (Variety)