The Iranian government has publicly confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), who reportedly died alongside his son, aides, and bodyguards due to airstrikes attributed to the United States and Israel. In a statement, the National Security Council praised Larijani for dedicating his life to the progress of Iran and the Islamic Revolution, referring to him as having 'martyrdom' due to his sacrifices. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed severe condemnation of the actions by the U.S. and Israel, promising 'harsh revenge' against what he termed terrorist actors responsible for the attacks.

On the preceding day, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for Larijani's elimination during the airstrikes, which they conducted. Alongside Larijani, the commander of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, was also reported killed. This information was subsequently corroborated by Iranian sources, which stated that a joint funeral for both figures is set to occur in Tehran on the 18th. This series of events marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions and military confrontations between Iran and Israel, as both nations continue to engage in fierce rhetoric and military actions.

In a broader context, the Israeli military has openly stated intentions to target Moztaba Khamenei, the newly appointed supreme leader of Iran, following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An IDF spokesperson emphasized that despite Khamenei's current invisibility, they are determined to locate and eliminate him, which heightens the stakes in an already volatile regional landscape filled with potential conflict.