Ali Larijani dead or alive? Iran's security chief responds after Israel’s claim; IDF says Basij head Soleimani killed

Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani (Left) and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ all-volunteer Basij force (Right)

Israel claims it targeted senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in an airstrike, escalating tensions as the Iran-US-Israel conflict enters its third week. Larijani responded, signaling he is alive. The war continues, impacting global energy and inflation concerns.

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Israel has claimed that it carried out an airstrike targeting senior Iranian official Ali Larijani, escalating tensions as the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance enters its third week.

According to Israeli officials, the overnight strike was aimed at Larijani, who serves as secretary of Iran’s National Security Council. However, there is still no official confirmation on whether he was killed or injured in the attack. Iranian authorities have not verified Israel’s claim so far.

The development marks a significant escalation, as Israel appears to be targeting top figures within Iran’s political and security establishment amid the ongoing war.

Larijani responds after strike claim

A day after Israel’s claim, Iranian media quoted Larijani issuing a strongly worded statement, signalling that he is alive and directly addressing both historical and current narratives surrounding Iran.

“47 years ago, on the eve of the people's victory in Islamic Revolution of Iran, the Prime Minister of Pahlavi regime claimed that the sound of the massive crowds chanting in streets was not real, but rather the sound of a tape recording!” he said.

Drawing a comparison to present-day events, Larijani added: “Now Trump says about the millions-strong anti-American and anti-Israeli gatherings in Iranian cities that these images are artificial intelligence!”

He concluded his message with a pointed remark: “The historic victory of the Iranian people over the remnants of Epstein's island is near.”

The statement appears aimed at countering both the Israeli claim about the strike and broader narratives questioning the scale of public support within Iran during the conflict.

War enters third week

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Forces claim they killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ all-volunteer Basij force -- a key force used to suppress demonstrations in the Islamic Republic.

The development comes as the Iran war enters its 18th day, with no clear signs of de-escalation. The conflict, which has already triggered disruptions in global energy supplies, is raising fresh concerns about inflationary pressures worldwide.

Just a day before the reported strike, Larijani had issued a strongly worded message directed at Muslim countries, criticising what he described as a lack of support for Iran during the ongoing war.

In his note addressed to Muslims and governments across the Islamic world, Larijani described the conflict as a “treacherous American-Zionist aggression”. He alleged that the attacks had resulted in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several military officials and civilians.

Larijani also asserted that Iran’s response had been resilient, stating that the country was witnessing a “firm national and Islamic resistance” from its people despite sustained attacks.

At the same time, he questioned why Muslim nations had not taken a stronger stance in support of Tehran, even as the war entered its third week.