Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that Iranian security chief Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted strike, escalating tensions in a conflict now entering its 18th day. The claim follows widespread Israeli strikes reported in cities like Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, though Iranian authorities have yet to confirm Larijani's status.
Larijani, a key confidant of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former parliamentary speaker, was last seen publicly at Friday's Quds Day rally. A handwritten note attributed to him surfaced on Iranian media and his X account Tuesday, but its authenticity remains unclear.
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly rejected international proposals for de-escalation, signaling a hardening stance toward the U.S. and Israel. With no ceasefire in sight, regional stability hangs in the balance as global leaders urge caution.
