Israel Claims Killing of Iran’s Ali Larijani, Conflicting Signals Emerge

Jerusalem, March 2026 : Israel on Tuesday claimed that it has killed Ali Larijani, a key figure in Iran’s leadership, even as conflicting reports surfaced shortly after the announcement.

In a statement posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Larijani, who served as Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had been “eliminated.” The Israeli military described him as one of the most senior and influential figures in the Iranian establishment and a close associate of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

According to the IDF, Larijani played a significant role in shaping Iran’s internal and regional policies and had allegedly overseen crackdowns during protests in the country. The statement further suggested that following Khamenei’s death, Larijani had taken on a central leadership role in directing Iran’s response to ongoing conflicts in the region.

However, the Israeli claim was quickly cast into doubt after posts appeared on Larijani’s official social media accounts. A handwritten message attributed to him referred to a funeral ceremony held on Tuesday for 84 Iranian sailors killed in a March 4 attack on the warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka.

“Their memory will forever remain in the heart of the Iranian nation,” the message read, suggesting that Larijani may still be alive. The conflicting narratives have added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation, with no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities.

The reported killing comes just days after Larijani was seen participating in the International Quds Day rally in Tehran on March 13, further intensifying questions about the accuracy of Israel’s claim.

Meanwhile, the IDF also announced that it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force. The Israeli military accused him of leading operations to suppress protests within Iran through arrests and use of force against civilians.

In addition to targeting key individuals, Israel said it carried out a series of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure. According to the IDF, its forces hit command centres, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) facilities, ballistic missile sites, and air defence systems in multiple locations.

Strikes were reported in Tehran, as well as in cities like Shiraz and Tabriz, where Israeli forces claimed to have weakened Iran’s defensive capabilities and expanded their aerial advantage in the region.

The developments mark a further escalation in the ongoing conflict, with claims and counterclaims continuing to emerge amid heightened military activity and limited independent verification.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)