Veteran Iranian politician Ali Larijani, a key architect of Iran's nuclear diplomacy and former parliament speaker, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 18, 2026, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. The attack occurred in a Tehran suburb where Larijani was visiting family, marking the second high-profile assassination in Iran following last month's death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in similar circumstances.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed responsibility for the strike, escalating already volatile cross-regional tensions. Larijani, 67, had served as Khamenei's political adviser since 2020 and played pivotal roles in shaping Iran's security policies during his tenure as nuclear negotiator (2005-2007) and parliament speaker (2008-2020).
Analysts suggest the killing could derail recent diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which Larijani helped ratify. His signature 2007 rejection of EU nuclear negotiations – comparing concessions to "trading a pearl for a candy bar" – remains emblematic of Iran's strategic posture.
The political vacuum created by Khamenei's death last month and now Larijani's assassination raises questions about leadership stability in Tehran. Regional powers have heightened security alerts amid fears of retaliatory measures.
