Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official and the country's de facto leader since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, was killed in overnight strikes along with Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Basij volunteer paramilitary force.
Katz thanked air force pilots and ground crews, as well as intelligence personnel and 'our American partners,' in carrying out the operation. He did not offer details of how Larijani was killed, marking what would be the most senior leader killed in Iran since Khamenei's death late last month.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans have largely supported Israel's right to target threats to its security, with many arguing that eliminating key Iranian leadership is necessary for regional stability. House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans have praised what they describe as decisive action against those responsible for orchestrating Iranian military operations and domestic repression.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz's acknowledgment of U.S. involvement in the operation has been welcomed by supporters who say intelligence sharing is appropriate when American citizens face potential threats from Iranian entities.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and anti-war advocates have expressed concern about the escalating conflict, arguing that deeper U.S. involvement in strikes against Iranian leadership risks broader regional instability. Some progressive lawmakers have called for congressional oversight of any U.S. military participation in operations inside Iran.
Human rights organizations have noted the Treasury Department's sanctions against Larijani for his role in the crackdown on anti-government protests, with some arguing that accountability for human rights abuses should come through international legal processes rather than targeted killings. The State Department offered a $10 million reward last week for information on Larijani and other top regime officials.
What the Numbers Show
Larijani, 67, was born in Najaf, Iraq, and served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. He held several senior positions including speaker of Parliament for 12 years and chief nuclear negotiator. His brother Sadeq Larijani served as head of the judiciary for a decade, making them one of Iran's most powerful political dynasties.
Larijani directed the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests that left thousands dead. The Treasury Department sanctioned him in January, stating he was 'one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people.' His daughter Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani was an assistant professor at Emory University until she resigned in January after protests over her father's role in the crackdown.
The Bottom Line
The killing of Larijani represents a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, removing one of Iran's most powerful figures. Tehran has not confirmed or denied the death. The targeting came after Larijani publicly threatened President Trump on social media, writing that Iran would not relent until making the U.S. 'sorry for this grave miscalculation.' What happens next in Iran's leadership succession and whether Iran responds militarily remain the key questions as the conflict continues.