Iran mourns Ali Larijani officially after Israeli raid targeted Tehran

The Secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued an official statement mourning its Secretary-General, Ali Larijani, confirming his death in an Israeli aerial attack targeting the capital, Tehran. The statement clarified that Larijani was martyred alongside his son, Morteza, and Ali Reza Bayat, the security assistant in the General Secretariat, in addition to a group of escorts, describing them as 'zealous protectors' who achieved martyrdom in a blessed dawn of the month of Ramadan.

This announcement coincided with confirmations from the Israeli side regarding precise airstrikes targeting first-tier leaders in the Iranian regime, where the assassination list also included Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij forces affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard. This operation comes within the framework of a wide military escalation that began last February, targeting the command and control structure in the Islamic Republic.

Ali Larijani, born in Najaf in 1957, is considered one of the most prominent pillars of governance in Iran for decades, having held sensitive positions including head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and speaker of the Shura Council for three consecutive terms. His political and security role significantly increased during the recent war, especially after the vacuum left by the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the military confrontations.

Informed sources reported that Larijani represented the 'de facto leader' in managing state affairs and complex negotiations during the past months, which led Tel Aviv to place him at the top of its target list. Larijani had made a rare public appearance in the International Quds Day march a few days ago, in a clear challenge to the security threats and continuous airstrikes on Iranian facilities.

In a related context, reports indicate that Larijani's absence may open the door to major shifts within the Iranian power hierarchy, with expectations of strengthening the influence of the radical wing within the Revolutionary Guard. Despite Mojtaba Khamenei being elected as his father's successor last week, his absence from the public scene and his reliance on written statements increased the weight of responsibility that fell on Larijani in managing the crisis.

Larijani had reiterated in his last statements Tehran's commitment to avenge the assassination of Ali Khamenei, emphasizing that his country would not back down in the face of American and Israeli pressures even if military operations ceased. He affirmed in his speeches that Iran was not the one who sought war, but it would not hesitate to fight it to the end if it was imposed upon it, which reflects the extent of the current tension in the region.

These field developments come at a time when Iran has been experiencing successive strikes since last February 28, resulting in the elimination of a large number of military and political leaders. Observers believe that Israel's 'decapitation strategy' aims to disrupt the Iranian decision-making system and weaken capabilities related to the nuclear program and regional influence in the absence of the regime's most prominent figures.

We will not leave the Americans until we avenge the assassination of our leader Ali Khamenei, and we will not be lenient with them even if they stop the war.