Israel Says It Has Killed Iran’s Security Chief Ali Larijani
Israel’s Defence Minister Katz has said that Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has been killed, a development announced amid fresh cross-border strikes that have also caused deaths and injuries in Lebanon and raised regional concern.
Who Is Ali Larijani
Ali Larijani was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and had returned to that post in August 2025, re-emerging as a central figure in Iran’s leadership. Known for decades as a measured, pragmatic figure within Iran’s establishment, he helped steer the country’s strategy amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Born in 1958 in Najaf, Iraq, to a wealthy family from Amol, Larijani belonged to a politically prominent dynasty. His father was a prominent religious scholar. Larijani married Farideh Motahari at age 20. He had a secular academic background, earning a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and completing a doctorate in Western philosophy focused on Immanuel Kant.
After the 1979 revolution he joined the IRGC before moving into government service. He served as culture minister and later headed the state broadcaster IRIB. In 2005 he became secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, a role he left in 2007. He entered parliament in 2008 and served three consecutive terms as Parliament speaker, playing a key role in securing approval for the 2015 nuclear deal.
Strikes, Casualties and Regional Reactions
Three people were killed in Israeli air strikes on the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon earlier in the morning, the National News Agency said. A number of others were wounded in the attacks and have been taken to hospital. Kuwait’s Health Ministry said two medical emergency staff were injured after debris fell on an ambulance centre; both medics were described as being in stable condition.
European officials have voiced growing scepticism about sending warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying that nobody is ready to put their people in harm’s way and calling for diplomatic measures to avoid wider crises in food, fertilizer and energy supplies.
There has been no comment from Iran yet.
What Happens Next
The announcement by Israel’s Defence Minister Katz that Ali Larijani has been killed is a major development. Further details and official confirmations remain limited at this time. Additional information on the circumstances of the strike, casualty tallies, and responses from regional governments has not been released.
Officials and observers will be watching for statements from Iranian authorities and for any subsequent actions or escalations in the region. Emergency services in affected areas are continuing to treat the wounded.
