Israel Claims Iran’s Security Chief Ali Larijani Killed in Overnight Strike – Tehran Denies Report
Jerusalem / Tehran – March 17, 2026 Israel’s military and intelligence services stated early Monday that Ali Larijani, a senior figure in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and former Speaker of Parliament, was killed in a precision airstrike carried out overnight in western Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a brief statement saying the operation targeted “a high-value individual responsible for coordinating Iran’s proxy networks and missile programs.” Israeli media outlets, citing defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the target as Ali Larijani and said the strike occurred near Kermanshah province, close to an IRGC missile storage facility.
Iranian state media and the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei immediately rejected the claim as “Zionist propaganda” and “psychological warfare.” Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported that Larijani is “safe and continuing his duties,” while semi-official Tasnim News Agency published a photo purportedly taken Monday morning showing Larijani meeting with senior clerics in Qom.
Conflicting Accounts Fuel Speculation
The discrepancy has sparked intense online debate and raised questions about whether Israel deliberately released false information to sow confusion inside Iran’s leadership circle or whether an actual strike occurred but missed or killed a different high-profile figure.
Key points from the conflicting narratives:
- Israeli side
- IDF spokesperson: “We do not comment on operational details, but the individual is no longer a threat to Israel or its allies.”
- Channel 12 and Ynet reported that the strike used a combination of F-35 stealth aircraft and long-range loitering munitions.
- Several Israeli security analysts noted that Larijani’s elimination would represent a major symbolic and operational blow, given his long-standing role bridging the IRGC, clerical establishment, and diplomatic channels.
- Iranian side
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani: “This is another desperate lie from a regime that has repeatedly failed to achieve its objectives.”
- State broadcaster IRIB aired footage of Larijani appearing calm and unharmed in what it said was a live morning meeting.
- Hardline outlets close to the IRGC suggested the claim was timed to distract from heavy Israeli losses in recent drone exchanges over Iraq and Syria.
Who Is Ali Larijani?
Ali Larijani, 66, served as Speaker of Iran’s Parliament from 2008 to 2020 and remains one of the most influential non-clerical figures in the Islamic Republic. He has held senior posts in the Supreme National Security Council, advised Supreme Leader Khamenei on foreign policy, and is widely seen as a pragmatic conservative who maintains channels to both hardliners and reformists.
Western intelligence agencies have long viewed him as a key coordinator of Iran’s support for Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, though he has never been directly sanctioned by the United States or European Union in the same way as IRGC commanders.
Broader Context of the Shadow War
The claim arrives amid the most intense phase of the Israel-Iran conflict since late February 2026, when Israel and the United States launched large-scale strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites. Iran has responded with barrages of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities and U.S. bases in the region, while Israel has continued deep strikes inside Iran and against Iranian proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
If confirmed, Larijani’s death would mark one of the highest-profile targeted killings since the October 2024 assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the December 2025 killing of senior IRGC commander Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi in Damascus.
Market & Diplomatic Reaction
- Oil prices briefly spiked 2.1% on the rumor before easing after Iran’s denial.
- The U.S. State Department declined to comment, saying only that it was “monitoring reports.”
- European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged “maximum restraint” from all parties.
As of 4:44 PM IST (11:14 UTC), neither side has provided independent verification such as satellite imagery, geolocated video, or third-party confirmation of casualties. Analysts warn that disinformation is running high on both sides, and the truth may not emerge for days or weeks.
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