Ali Larijani, a key architect of Iran's security and nuclear policy, was killed with his son in a strike, marking a major blow to the country's political leadership.

Ali Larijani, one of Iran’s most powerful political figures and head of its Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an air strike at his daughter’s home near Tehran along with his son, deputy and bodyguards, Iranian authorities confirmed on Tuesday. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Larijani was killed in Pardis, northeast of Tehran, in the early hours of the morning. Alongside him were his son Morteza Larijani, his deputy for security Alireza Bayat and several guards. “In the early hours of the morning, he was martyred along with his son Morteza, Alireza Bayat and a number of bodyguards,” the council said in a statement, describing him as a lifelong servant of the Islamic Republic. Iranian state-linked outlets, including the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency, also reported that the strike hit his daughter’s home. The killing marks one of the most direct hits on Iran’s senior leadership in the ongoing conflict, which has already seen multiple high-ranking officials targeted. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz had earlier said Larijani was among senior figures “eliminated” in Israeli strikes. In a strongly worded statement, Katz said the leaders had “joined Khamenei along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell.” Israel also confirmed the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, in the same wave of strikes. The Israeli military has signalled it will continue targeting Iran’s top leadership. Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel would pursue Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. “We don’t know about Mojtaba Khamenei, we don’t hear him, we don’t see him,” Defrin said. “But I can tell you one thing: We will track him down, find him, and neutralize him.” Larijani’s death comes amid escalating military exchanges across the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has continued missile and drone attacks, while Tehran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the strikes are aimed at weakening Iran’s leadership “to give the Iranian people the opportunity to remove it.” However, there have been no visible signs of unrest inside Iran as civilians shelter from ongoing attacks. A week before his death, Larijani had struck a defiant tone in response to a warning from US President Donald Trump. “The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran,” he wrote. “Be careful not to get eliminated yourself”