Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Tuesday that it had killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in overnight airstrikes targeting “Iranian infrastructure.”

However, shortly after the Israeli announcement, Larijani’s official account on the social media platform X published a handwritten letter allegedly written by the Iranian official himself. The undated message mourns the deaths of Iranian navy members and makes no reference to the Israeli claims.

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Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a forceful statement declaring that “Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated tonight and have joined the head of the annihilation plan, (Ali) Khamenei, and all the frustrated members of the axis of evil in the depths of hell.”

Larijani, born in Iraq in 1958, is considered one of the most influential political figures within the Islamic Revolution and had been described by Arab media as the “most important man only behind key figures such as Mojtaba Khamenei.”

He last appeared in public on Friday, participating alongside other officials and thousands of people in a march through Tehran to defy threats against the country and demonstrate opposition to the war.

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