Irani Ali Rijani Dead or Not? Israel Claims Iran’s Top Security Chief Ali Larijani Killed in Overnight Airstrike – Latest from Official Sources, Pakistan Media & Social Media
In the middle of the fast-moving US-Israel-Iran war, a major new claim has everyone talking: Israel says it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful National Security Council secretary and the man many saw as the country’s de facto leader after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death last month. In Pakistan and other parts of the region, people often refer to him as “Irani Ali Rijani” or similar spellings in Urdu discussions. Right now, the answer to “dead or not?” is this: Israel is 100% sure he is gone, but Iran has stayed quiet officially and even released what looks like an old handwritten note to push back. No final confirmation from Tehran yet. Here’s the full picture with proper references so you can check everything yourself.
Who Exactly Is (or Was) Ali Larijani?
Ali Larijani isn’t some random name. He’s a heavyweight in Iranian politics for decades – former speaker of parliament, nuclear negotiator, and close ally of the supreme leader. After Khamenei was killed in early March strikes, Larijani stepped up as head of the Supreme National Security Council and became the voice warning Israel and the US on live TV and social media. Many analysts called him the “pragmatist” who still had the trust of the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) while keeping channels open with China and Russia.
What Israel Is Saying Today (17 March 2026)
Just hours ago, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz went public: “We killed Ali Larijani in an overnight airstrike on Tehran.” The Israel Defence Forces backed it up, calling it a “precise operation” that also targeted Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani. Israeli media and officials are already celebrating it as a huge blow – bigger than losing Khamenei, some say, because Larijani was running day-to-day security and planning.
Netanyahu’s office added that this removes one of the last senior figures who could have negotiated or kept the regime stable.
Iran’s Side – Silence + One Old Note
As of this evening, Iranian state media and the government have not issued any official death announcement or denial. Instead, they dropped a handwritten note supposedly from Larijani (dated earlier) about fallen sailors. Pakistani channels like SAMAA TV are calling it a “refutation” attempt, but it doesn’t prove he’s alive – it’s just an old message reused. No new video or appearance from Larijani himself. That’s why the status remains “claimed killed, unconfirmed by Iran.”
How Pakistan Media Is Covering It
Pakistani outlets jumped on the story fast because of the huge Shia community interest and earlier protests over Khamenei’s death.
- Geo News ran a breaking bulletin: “Israel Claims It Killed Ali Larijani in Airstrike – Status Unconfirmed.” They showed clips of Katz’s statement and reminded viewers of Larijani’s recent tough talk against the US.
- SAMAA TV (both English and Urdu) reported: “Iranian Media Refutes Israeli Claims on Ali Larijani’s Death, Releases Handwritten Message.” They stressed that nothing is verified yet and aired reactions from local analysts.
- Urdu social media pages linked to ARY and 24 News HD are calling it “Israeli media claim sparks global controversy” and warning that more escalation is coming.
In short, Pakistan media is treating it exactly like the rest of the world – big claim from Israel, wait-and-see from Iran.
Social Media Reactions (X/Twitter & Beyond)
The timeline exploded within minutes. Posts in English, Urdu and Persian are everywhere:
- People sharing Katz’s exact words: “Israel says it has killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani.”
- Iranian opposition accounts are celebrating: “Iranians will be celebrating.”
- Supporters posting the old note and saying, “He’s alive, this is propaganda.”
- One viral clip from CNN’s Becky Anderson asking experts how big a loss this would be.
Hashtags like #AliLarijani and #IranWar are trending in Pakistan right now.
What Happens Next?
If the death is confirmed, it would be another massive hit to Iran’s leadership just weeks after Khamenei. Analysts say it removes a man who could have steered talks or kept hardliners in check. On the flip side, it might push Iran toward even tougher revenge moves.
For now, the honest answer to “Is Irani Ali Rijani dead or not?” is: Israel says yes, Iran hasn’t confirmed no. We’ll update as soon as Tehran speaks or new proof drops. Keep an eye on Geo, SAMAA, Al Jazeera and Reuters – they’re the most reliable right now.
Stay safe, and feel free to share any new links you spot in the comments. This story is moving fast.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Ali Larijani dead or alive right now?
Israel officially claims that Ali Larijani was killed in an overnight airstrike in Tehran on March 17, 2026. Iran has not confirmed his death and has not issued any official statement saying he is dead. As of now (evening March 17, 2026 PKT), his status is unconfirmed by Tehran — Israel says dead, Iran has not said anything yet.
Who announced that Ali Larijani was killed?
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz publicly announced that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in a precision strike near Tehran. The announcement was widely reported by international media including Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, The New York Times, and others.
Why is Ali Larijani so important in Iran?
After Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed earlier in the war (late February/early March 2026), Ali Larijani became one of the most powerful figures in Iran. As Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, he was coordinating security, military decisions, and giving public warnings to the US and Israel. Many analysts called him the de facto day-to-day leader of Iran’s security apparatus.
Has Iran shown any proof that Ali Larijani is still alive?
No new video, photo, or public appearance of Ali Larijani has appeared since Israel’s claim on March 17, 2026. Some Iranian-linked media shared an old handwritten note (a condolence message about fallen sailors), but it does not prove he is alive after the reported strike. Iran has not released any fresh statement or evidence confirming he survived.
What will happen if Ali Larijani’s death is confirmed?
If confirmed, it would be a very serious blow to Iran’s leadership — one of the biggest since Khamenei’s death. It could create more confusion in command, make negotiations harder, and possibly lead to stronger Iranian retaliation. At the same time, some opposition voices believe it would weaken the current regime further. The situation is still developing very quickly.
