Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned Israel and America on the death of Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani. He issued a statement condoling Larijani’s death and said that his murderers would soon have to pay the price. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council had earlier confirmed that its secretary Ali Larijani had been killed in an attack.
Mojtaba Khamenei said, ‘I am deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of the martyrdom of Ali Larijani, his son and many colleagues. He was a very experienced person, who served Iran in political and security related fields for decades. Such terrorist acts only reflect the hostility of the enemies and will further strengthen the resolve of the Islamic nation of Iran. Without a doubt, justice will definitely be served.
In this war that started last month, Israel and America are continuously targeting the top leadership of Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on March 18 that his Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib had been killed. Earlier, Israel had said that Khatib was killed in air strikes last night. He posted on X and described the murder of Ismail Khatib, Ali Larijani and Nasirzadeh as cowardly.
After the assassination of Larijani, the most influential person in Iranian politics, the decision-making process in Tehran has become complicated and its options have become limited as the war continues. Larijani took over the country’s top national security post in 2005 as Western concerns grew over Iran’s nuclear program, making him the country’s chief nuclear negotiator.
Even on the 19th day of the war, the figures are in favor of America and Israel and more Iranian officers have been killed. Israel says that it has breached Iran’s security structure. This war is no longer just an American-Israeli air campaign against Iran. It is now a wider regional conflict, affecting Lebanon, the Gulf countries, global shipping and energy markets.
Now the issue is not whether America and Israel have caused serious damage to Iran or not. The question now is whether President Donald Trump can translate that military dominance into a political outcome that looks like a victory, or whether Iran has succeeded in making the war longer and more expensive than Trump expected. Iran’s top leadership, including its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was completely eliminated on the very first day. Since then, American-Israeli forces have also killed several other important political and military figures.
Israel and the US have weakened Iranian military infrastructure, targeted internal security forces and pushed Tehran into defensive mode. However, wars are not evaluated only on the basis of number of dead, destroyed air defense systems or command bunkers. It is also evaluated on the basis of economic losses, coalition cohesion and ability to dictate peace terms. This is where Trump’s position appears weaker.
(This story is being updated…)
