| Israel Katz | Photo source: Israel Inside |
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that Israel eliminates Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, two pivotal figures in the Iranian regime. The elimination of these high-ranking officials deals a critical blow to both Tehran’s foreign policy management and its internal security apparatus.
Profiles: Israel Eliminates Larijani and Soleimani
| Ali Larijani | Photo: Open sources |
☛ Ali Larijani served as a cornerstone of the Iranian state for decades. A member of an influential and wealthy political clan, he held the position of Speaker of Parliament (Majlis) for twelve years. Long regarded as an intellectual and a seasoned negotiator who helped build Iran’s nuclear program, Larijani abandoned diplomacy during the 2025–2026 escalation. Adopting a hardline stance, he publicly threatened the United States and Israel with an “unforgettable lesson,” warning of unprecedented force.
Following reports of serious injuries to the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Larijani had become the de facto head of state, consolidating all levers of power. Israeli intelligence tracked the shadow leader to a safe house used to evade assassination attempts. Ali Larijani was killed alongside his son in an overnight missile strike.
| Gholamreza Soleimani | Photo: Open sources |
☛ Simultaneously, Gholamreza Soleimani—the man responsible for the regime’s physical survival within the country—was also eliminated. Since 2019, he had led the Basij, a multi-million-member paramilitary volunteer militia integrated into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
While elite units operated abroad, Soleimani specialized in internal terror. Under his command, the Basij became a ruthless machine responsible for mass executions and the brutal suppression of civil protests in recent years. These actions led the international community to designate his organization as a terrorist entity, and Soleimani himself was placed on dozens of sanctions lists.
Strategic Impact: Israel Eliminates Larijani and Soleimani
The deaths of Larijani and Soleimani are expected to fundamentally alter the course of the “Iranian War.” By eliminating Larijani, Israel has dismantled the regime’s primary “brain center,” removing a functionary capable of making strategic decisions while the Supreme Leader remains isolated. The removal of Soleimani strips Tehran of its primary punitive instrument, which has been the key to preventing widespread uprisings among an exhausted Iranian public.
