Iran's Leadership Crisis: Missing Supreme Leader and Assassinations Spark Power Struggles The Islamic Republic of Iran faces a deepening political and security crisis as its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, remains absent from public view despite being officially named as the country’s leader. Prominent figures, including former security chief Ali Larijani and former intelligence chief Abbas Ali Zanjani, have been assassinated in recent months, raising questions about who truly holds power in the nation. Analysts warn that the ongoing violence and instability could lead to a more rigid, hardline leadership structure, exacerbating regional tensions. The assassination of Ali Larijani, a key figure in Iran’s security apparatus, has left his brother, Saeed Larijani, as a potential successor within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Saeed, who holds a senior position in the system, is seen by some experts as a viable candidate to lead the IRGC, which has increasingly acted as a de facto governing body. Meanwhile, the IRGC’s growing influence has been evident in its role in military strategy and decision-making, blurring the lines between state institutions and the military. A temporary leadership council, comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, religious leader Ali Reza Araki, and judiciary chief Golam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, has been established to manage the country’s affairs. However, internal divisions persist, with some factions supporting Khamenei’s authority and others advocating for alternative leadership. The absence of Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since his appointment, has further fueled speculation about the legitimacy of the current power structure.#iran #islamic_revolutionary_guard_corps #ayatollah_mojtaba_khamenei #ali_larijani #saeed_larijani
Ali Larijani's Assassination Marks Major Shift in Iran's Power Structure Ali Larijani, Iran’s former security chief, was killed in a strike near Tehran, dealing a significant blow to the country’s leadership amid escalating tensions with Israel and the United States. His death, confirmed by Iran and described as a martyrdom, underscores the deepening instability in the region following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month. Larijani, known as a key architect of Iran’s security policy and a trusted ally of Khamenei, was identified as a high-priority target for Israeli forces after Khamenei’s death. The attack occurred when Larijani visited his daughter at her home in Pardis, a suburb of Tehran. Israeli intelligence reportedly located him through local tips, according to an Israeli official cited by Iran International. The strike killed Larijani, his son—a deputy—and several bodyguards. This marked the second major Iranian official to be assassinated in recent days, following the killing of Basij paramilitary chief Gholamreza Soleimani in Israeli strikes earlier in March. Larijani’s assassination was seen as a calculated move by Israeli forces, who had struggled to pinpoint his location despite his prominence. Analysts noted that his frequent public appearances, including participation in rallies and media interactions, inadvertently exposed him to surveillance. Israeli officials criticized his "arrogant behavior" in the aftermath of Khamenei’s death, suggesting that his visibility made him vulnerable. Despite efforts to evade detection, Larijani’s decision to visit his family home ultimately led to his demise. Iran has vowed to retaliate, with its military chief, Amir Hatami, warning of a "decisive and regrettable" response to the attack.#iran #israel #ali_larijani #pardis #amir_hatami
Iran launches missile strike on Tel Aviv using cluster warheads in retaliation for killing of security chief Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles equipped with cluster warheads on Tuesday, killing two people in a densely populated neighborhood near key military facilities, according to Iranian state television. The attack, described as retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the use of Khorramshahr 4 and Qadr missiles, both capable of carrying multiple warheads. The strike in Tel Aviv brought the death toll from the war to at least 14 in Israel. A projectile also hit an area near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, though no damage or injuries were reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urged maximum restraint to prevent a nuclear accident. Israel and the U.S. have emphasized preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons as a key objective of their recent attacks, which killed Iran’s supreme leader and other top officials. Iran confirmed the killing of Larijani, the highest-ranking figure targeted since the U.S.-Israeli war began, along with his son and deputy, Alireza Bayat, in an Israeli strike on Monday. The targeted killings occurred amid a lack of de-escalation in the conflict. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, rejected proposals for a ceasefire or reduced tensions with the U.S., stating peace was not possible until the U.S. and Israel “accept defeat.” In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed at least six people in Beirut’s Bachoura neighborhood, with additional casualties reported in southern and eastern regions.#iran #israel #tel_aviv #ali_larijani #international_atomic_energy_agency
Is Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani dead? Israeli media say strike targeted him, fate unclear Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli military targeted Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani in a strike, though it remained unclear whether he was killed or injured. Iran has not yet responded to the claims, according to Reuters. The report stated that the military’s actions were aimed at Larijani, who serves as the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council. No official confirmation from Tehran has been released so far. Separately, The Times of Israel cited Israeli officials who claimed that an overnight airstrike inside Iran targeted Larijani. The report also mentioned another Israeli strike that hit Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Akram al-Ajouri and other senior members of the group, based on defense sources. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir appeared to confirm aspects of the operation during a morning assessment. Zamir stated that “significant elimination achievements were recorded overnight, with the potential to impact the campaign’s achievements and the IDF’s missions.” He added that these actions were part of broader efforts against external elements linked to the Palestinian arena, including senior operatives from Gaza and the West Bank who were reportedly hiding in a safe house in Tehran. The strike on Larijani followed earlier tensions between Iran and Israel, with Iran accusing Israel of bombing fuel depots and calling the attacks “ecocide.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned NATO about the potential fallout of the war. The situation has also raised concerns in the Gulf region, with some elites urging the U.S. to take stronger action against Iran, citing fears of threats to the Strait of Hormuz.#strait_of_hormuz #ali_larijani #israeli_media #israel_defense_forces #palestinian_islamic_jihad
Israel Targets Iran's Security Chief Ali Larijani: Status Unclear Israeli media reported that Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official, was among those struck in overnight attacks on Iranian military targets. However, it remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or injured in the strike, according to the Times of Israel. Iran has not yet issued any official statement confirming or denying the reports. Larijani, who serves as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the country’s power structure. A former nuclear negotiator, he has long been a key player in Iran’s strategic decisions. If his death is confirmed, he would be the highest-ranking Iranian official to be killed since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who passed away at the start of the conflict. Larijani was a close ally of Khamenei and played a central role in shaping Iran’s security policies. The strike reportedly targeted other senior figures as well, including Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij Resistance Force, and other high-ranking Basij officials. However, Iran has not yet acknowledged the casualties, and the full impact of the attacks is still under assessment. In a separate development, Iran’s state media, Press TV, released a statement attributed to Larijani, in which he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump. The statement referenced a historical claim made by the former Pahlavi regime’s prime minister during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, accusing Trump of dismissing the authenticity of large anti-American protests in Iran. Larijani called the U.S. actions a betrayal of the Iranian people and emphasized the country’s determination to resist foreign aggression.#iran #israel #ali_larijani #basij_resistance_force #press_tv
Explosions near Tehran al-Quds Day march in solidarity with Palestinians Explosions rocked Tehran during an annual al-Quds Day rally, where thousands gathered to show support for Palestinians and protest Israeli occupation. At least one person was killed in the blasts, which occurred amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The incidents took place as demonstrators marched through the capital, marking the day’s commemoration of Jerusalem and solidarity with the Palestinian cause. A major explosion in Ferdowsi Square, a central location for the rally, was reported by Iranian state television. The blast occurred shortly after Israel had warned people to clear the area ahead of a planned strike. Press TV cited an airstrike as the cause, stating that a woman was killed by shrapnel. However, no further details about the attack’s origin or casualties were provided. Iran’s Health Ministry reported that over 1,444 people had been killed and 18,551 injured since February 28 due to US-Israeli attacks. Al Jazeera Arabic noted another air strike near a protest gathering in Tehran, though the exact location and casualty count remained unclear. Despite the violence, crowds turned out in Tehran and other cities, as reported by state media. Al-Quds Day, also known as “Quds Day,” is an international observance supporting Palestine and opposing Israeli occupation. The event has been held in Iran since 1979, following its declaration by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s founder. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani attended the rally in Tehran. Larijani claimed Israel’s attacks on the day were driven by fear, while criticizing US President Donald Trump for lacking awareness of Iran’s resilience.#iran #masoud_pezeshkian #tehran #ali_larijani #al_quds_day
Pete Hegseth pledges ‘most intense day’ of US strikes against Iran Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has asserted that the United States is “winning” in its conflict with Iran, though he has not specified a timeline for the war’s conclusion, emphasizing that the decision rests with President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hegseth outlined the US’s primary objectives: neutralizing Tehran’s missile capabilities, dismantling its naval forces, and ensuring Iran “permanently denies nuclear weapons forever.” He described the current day as “yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran,” highlighting the scale of military operations. Despite US claims of progress, Iranian officials have expressed defiance. Top security official Ali Larijani warned that “those mightier than you have not been able to eliminate our nation,” vowing continued resistance. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, framing its program as peaceful. Following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, Trump claimed the country’s nuclear capabilities had been “obliterated.” However, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel and regional targets, including strikes on oil infrastructure in Gulf nations. These actions have disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy trade, driving up fuel prices. Trump has threatened Iran with “death, fire, and fury” if it does not allow oil shipments to pass through the strait, while Larijani countered by calling the waterway a potential “Strait of peace and prosperity” or “defeat and suffering” for aggressors. US General Dan Caine noted that forces are actively targeting mine-laying vessels in the Gulf, though the use of military escorts for oil tankers remains under consideration.#iran #donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #pete_hegseth #ali_larijani
