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In a statement released by Iranian state-affiliated Mehr news, the country’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the Larijani's death in an Israeli airstrike

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani has been confirmed dead in what is the biggest blow to Iran's power structure since the death of recently deceased supreme leader Ali Kahmeni late last month. In a statement released by Iranian state-affiliated Mehr news, the country’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the Larijani's death in an Israeli airstrike. The commander of Iran’s internal Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, has also been killed, Iran confirmed in the same public statement.

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Iran’s supreme national security council confirmed the death of Ali Larijani in a statement, saying: "The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of God’s righteous servant, Martyr Dr Ali Larijani.

"After a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honourably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service."

His son and his bodyguards had died with him, the statement added.

Larijani is largely considered to be one of Iran's most powerful men. While his official title is the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, he was known as an uncompromising man, a backroom power broker, and an uncompromising force to be reckoned with.

He was appointed to SNSC in August 2025, working as the representative of Iran's late Supreme Leader. Described by some media agencies as Iran's most powerful man, and others as Iran's defacto leader he has also been called an advisor to the late Kahmeni and was a close confidant.

In his post as secretary of the SNSC, he effectively functioned as the top negotiator on issues of national security, including Iran's nuclear program.

Prior to this, he served as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator between 2005 and 2007, and was a senior official involved in talks with the European Union and United Nations during that time. Iran has famously blocked entry to inspectors from the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, the global regulator that ensures safe use of nuclear power.