Israel announces Assassination of Ali Larijani… Post on his “X” account contradicts the report

March 17: Israel announces Assassination of Ali Larijani amid leadership changes… Post on his account contradicts the report

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on Tuesday, March 17, what he described as the “elimination” of Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, as part of military operations the Israeli army says it continues to carry out against Iran.

Katz added in an official statement that these operations are carried out under the directives of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and aim to target senior officials and prevent the rebuilding of Iran’s capabilities.

Targeting leadership amid changes

Katz noted that the recent operations involved the assassination of prominent figures, including Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Larijani and Basij Chief Qasem Soleimani, according to the statement.

He pointed out that these developments coincide with comments from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the acceleration of leadership changes in Iran, suggesting that targeting senior figures reflects the continuation of this trend.

Ongoing military escalation

The Israeli minister confirmed that the army continues to target Iran’s missile capabilities and strategic infrastructure, stating that these operations have significantly weakened these capacities.

He also praised the performance of the air force and intelligence personnel and mentioned cooperation with U.S. partners in carrying out the operations, describing the strike as a notable development in the context of military operations.

Contradictory message

In contrast, an account attributed to Ali Larijani on the X platform posted a handwritten message offering condolences to Iranian military casualties, following the Israeli announcement.

به مناسبت مراسم تشییع سلحشوران نیروی دریایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران: یاد آنان همواره در قلب ملت ایران خواهد بود و این شهادت‌ها بنیان ارتش جمهوری اسلامی را برای سالها در ساختار نیروهای مسلح استوار می‌نماید. ازخداوند متعال علو درجات برای این شهدای عزیز خواستارم. pic.twitter.com/dvTdhyDYbY

— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 17, 2026

The message praised the sacrifices of Iranian naval personnel, emphasizing that their memory remains in the nation’s consciousness, and concluded with prayers for the fallen, raising questions about the accuracy of reports regarding his death.

On Monday, Larijani had addressed leaders of Islamic countries, urging regional cooperation independent of U.S. interests. Full details are available via this link.