Israel claims Iran's security chief dead, Ali Larijani posts on X moments later

According to the Israeli military, Larijani was one of the targets of the strikes carried out on Monday nights across Iran.

Updated on: Mar 17, 2026, 17:15:23 IST

Edited by Nikita Sharma

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Israel's defence minister Israel Katz claimed on Tuesday that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was killed, reported news agency Reuters. However, there has been no confirmation from Tehran yet.

LIVE: Iran Confirms Security Chief Ali Larijani Has Been Killed | Israel-Iran War Live | Netanyahu

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,” Katz said this morning, according to his office.

Earlier in the day, the reports of Larijani's alleged death emerged from Israeli media.

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However, later in the day, a post was shared on Larijani's social media account paying tribute to the “martyrs” of the Islamic Republic.

Also read: Who is Ali Larijani, at centre of Israel's big claim? Top Iran leader who vowed to make Trump sorry

“On the occasion of the funeral ceremony for the valiant martyrs of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy: Their memory will forever remain in the heart of the Iranian nation, and these martyrdoms will strengthen the foundation of the Islamic Republic's Army for years to come within the structure of the armed forces. I beseech the Almighty God for the highest ranks for these dear martyrs,” the post read. But no confirmation was given on whether Larijani is dead or alive.

According to the Israeli military, Larijani was one of the targets of the strikes carried out on Monday nights across Iran, Reuters reported citing Israeli officials.

If confirmed, Larijani's death would be the biggest high-profile death in Iran amid the ongoing war after the country's late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed on the first day of the war on February 28.

Also read: Netanyahu's new pic released amid death rumours: 'Ordering elimination of Iranian officials'

Larijani was seen on Friday in Tehran at the Quds Day rallies, following which, the United States announced a reward of up to $10 million on the same day for any leads on 10 of Iran's intelligence and military officials including as Larijani and others linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Apart from Larijani, Israel also claimed that they have killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Basij forces. The Basij Forces is a paramilitary volunteer militia under the control of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

(With inputs from Reuters)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikita Sharma
Nikita Sharma is a Senior Content Producer with Hindustan Times. She is a Delhi-based digital journalist with five years of experience writing and editing news stories across beats including crime, politics, tech, trends and much more, both national and international. At Hindustan Times, she is part of the news team and focuses on breaking news, keeping a track of what is happening where, and chasing ever-developing news stories. She has a penchant for covering crime, geopolitics, and Indian politics with a keen eye for stories often overlooked in the daily news cycle. At Hindustan Times, she has extensively covered several key events including the US Presidential elections, Air India plane crash, Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, US’ tariff war, and others. As a Delhi aficionado, she particularly enjoys roaming and writing about the national capital — its heritage, food, art and culture, and the many problems that come with it — the pollution, waterlogging, traffic, and more. Nikita did her Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication from GGSIPU and started working as a digital journalist in 2021. During her first stint, she covered hyperlocal news at a Delhi-based newsroom, writing and editing stories on builder-buyer conflicts, civic issues such as potholes, waterlogging, lack of facilities at hospitals in Delhi, crippling of the city during peak monsoon season. She also wrote features covering Delhi’s art exhibitions, heritage walks, artist profiles, museums, classical Hindustani music concerts and dance shows. She entered mainstream news in 2023 and has previously worked at NDTV.Read More

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