Israel has announced the targeted killing of Ali Larijani, the influential secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the internal Basij militia. While Israeli officials celebrate the strike as a massive strategic blow, Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied the deaths, creating a tense atmosphere of uncertainty across the region.
The claim was spearheaded by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday, who asserted that the "leaders of the regime are being killed and their capabilities terminated." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this in a televised address, labeling Larijani the "boss of the Revolutionary Guards" and framing the assassination as a catalyst for the Iranian people to overthrow the clerical government.
In a move widely interpreted as an attempt to signal Larijani is still alive, Iranian state media released a handwritten note attributed to him. The note commemorates 84 Iranian sailors killed in a recent US naval attack. However, the timing of the writing remains unverified, leaving experts divided on whether the veteran politician is truly deceased.
If confirmed, Larijani’s death marks the most significant casualty since the initial strikes on February 28, which reportedly killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani was far more than a military figure; he was a pillar of the Iranian hierarchy.
- Former Speaker of Parliament: A key voice in domestic policy.
- Nuclear Negotiator: He previously led high-stakes diplomatic talks with the West.
- Ideological Voice: Just a day before the reported strike, he issued a message urging Muslim nations to fulfill their "religious duty" by siding with Iran against US and Israeli aggression.
Alongside Larijani, the reported death of Gholamreza Soleimani is equally significant for internal Iranian affairs. As the head of the Basij, Soleimani was the architect of internal security, responsible for suppressing domestic dissent and anti-government protests.
Despite the symbolic and psychological weight of these claims, analysts suggest the "whack-a-mole" strategy may not lead to the immediate fall of the Iranian government. Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute, noted that while the loss is significant, the regime is structured to replace leaders quickly.
"There is always another leader... I don't think this suggests any kind of collapse," Elmasry stated, though he acknowledged the immense psychological impact on the Iranian leadership.
As the funeral for the 84 sailors proceeds on Tuesday, the world remains on edge, waiting for a definitive response from Tehran that will likely dictate the next phase of this rapidly intensifying war.
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