Gambiaj.com – (TEHRAN, Iran) – Iran has confirmed the deaths of two of its most senior figures, Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, in incidents that have sharply escalated tensions in the Middle East.
Tehran announced early Wednesday that Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and one of the country’s most influential decision-makers, had been killed. In a statement, the council said he was “martyred” after a lifetime of public service, adding that he died alongside several others, including his son and members of his security detail.
The confirmation came hours after Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, claimed that Larijani had been “eliminated” in an operation carried out Monday night.
Iranian authorities described Larijani as a key figure who remained committed to national service “until the very last moments of his life” and called for unity in the face of what they termed external threats.
In a separate development, Iran also confirmed the death of Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, which plays a central role in internal security and enforcement. Tehran said he was killed in what it described as “a terrorist attack by the American-Zionist enemy,” without providing further operational details.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “deep sorrow and regret” over Larijani’s death, praising his character and leadership. “I saw nothing from him but benevolence, insight, companionship, and foresight,” he was quoted as saying by state-affiliated media, adding that the loss would be difficult to replace.
Funeral ceremonies for both men are scheduled for Wednesday, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
Meanwhile, security concerns intensified in neighboring Iraq, where drone and rocket attacks resumed around the United States Embassy in Baghdad early Wednesday, according to a local security official. No immediate claims of responsibility were reported.
The killings of such high-ranking figures, coupled with renewed attacks in Baghdad, underscore a rapidly deteriorating security environment in the region, raising fears of further escalation between Iran, Israel, and their respective allies.
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