Larijani Life-and-Death Rashomon: Israeli Military Claims His Death, His Social Media Account Posts Messages

On the 17th local time, the Israeli military announced that they killed Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an airstrike; Larijani’s social media account posted a handwritten condolence to fallen Iranian Navy soldiers on the same day, which outside observers interpret as a rebuttal to rumors of Larijani’s death.

Timeline of Israeli Military Actions

According to Israeli officials, the airstrike on Larijani occurred between the night of the 16th and early morning of the 17th.

On the morning of the 17th, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated in an assessment, “Significant destruction was achieved overnight, which could impact the outcome of the campaign and the mission of the Israel Defense Forces.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office also said on social media on the 17th that Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the “elimination” of senior Iranian officials.

On the same day, the Israeli military issued a statement that during an early morning airstrike on Tehran, Iran’s capital, “Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed.”

Larijani’s Social Media Account Remains Active

While Israel claims Larijani was killed, Larijani’s social media account posted a handwritten condolence to fallen Iranian Navy soldiers. This public posting is seen by outside observers as a rebuttal to rumors of Larijani’s death.

The condolence states that the heroic deeds of the fallen soldier aboard the Iranian frigate “Dena” will be forever engraved in the hearts of the Iranian people and will serve as a cornerstone for Iran’s military development for many years to come.

Earlier this month, the “Dena” was sunk by a U.S. submarine with torpedoes in waters south of Sri Lanka, resulting in over 80 deaths.

Why is Larijani So Important?

According to Al Jazeera, Ali Larijani has been known for his pragmatic and steady approach in Iranian politics for decades. He has played a significant role in Iran’s nuclear negotiations and has helped shape Iran’s strategic policies during conflicts with the U.S. and Israel.

Larijani was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1958. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, he held important positions in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian government, and Iran’s national broadcasting.

In 2005, Larijani became Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, serving until 2007. In 2008, he entered parliament and served as speaker for three consecutive terms, playing a key role in passing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with the U.S.

In August 2025, Larijani returned as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, once again becoming a core figure in Iran’s leadership.

Conflict Continues for 18 Days

US and Iran Both Say “No Negotiations”

On the 17th, senior Iranian officials stated that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected proposals for easing tensions or achieving peace during a foreign affairs meeting, dismissing the suggestions conveyed by two intermediary countries to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. Khamenei emphasized, “Now is not the time for peace,” and stated that the U.S. and Israel must be defeated and made to pay reparations.

Prior to this, two senior White House officials said that Iran had recently attempted to contact the Trump administration through various channels to restart diplomatic negotiations, but President Trump currently refuses to resume talks.

The US and Israel’s military strikes against Iran have lasted for 18 days. Iranian government spokesperson Mohajerani said that the attacks by the U.S. and Israel have caused numerous civilian casualties, including minors, women, and medical personnel, with over 61,000 civilian facilities damaged or attacked.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the “Real Commitment-4” military operation has launched 57 waves of attacks targeting multiple locations within Israel and U.S. military bases, using various missiles and drones such as “Emad,” “Qader,” and “Hibar.”

The IRGC’s intelligence organization also reported the recent arrest of 10 individuals of unknown nationality suspected of espionage.

(Source: CCTV News)