Larijani Assassination: Iran’s Diplomatic Doors Close
TEHRAN – Iran has threatened people to evacuate near five oil and natural gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. The threats are against Zamref Refinery in Saudi Arabia, Jubail Petrochemical Complex, Al Hossan Gas Field in UAE, Ras Laffan Refinery in Qatar and Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex. Iran’s national media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian army, had informed them to leave these places as soon as possible and go to safer places.
Israel attacks Iran’s natural gas facilities The attack was on centers in South Pars and Bushehr province. Iranian official media reported that Israeli jets attacked the natural gas plant in Bushehr.
Meanwhile, Qatar condemned Israel’s attack on a natural gas facility in South Pars. Majid Al Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said that the Israeli attack on South Pars, which is attached to Qatar’s North Field, was dangerous and irresponsible. He added that targeting energy production centers poses a threat to global energy security and the region’s people and environment.
Israel’s killing of Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has closed the last door to diplomatic talks between Iran and the West. Larijani’s death is expected to hamper diplomatic efforts to end the war quickly, amid heightened US-Israeli military action. With this, it is estimated that the wartime leadership in Iran will be completely in the hands of hardliners.
Larijani has been active in Iran’s power centers for decades. He had influence over important decisions of the country through his connections with key figures and various political factions, including the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani played a central role in discussions about Iran’s nuclear program. He visited Gulf-Arab countries and arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in the weeks before the conflict began. After Khamenei’s assassination on February 28, Larijani emerged as an increasingly important presence in Iran’s leadership structure.
His last public appearance was at a rally in Tehran last Friday. Since the start of the war, Larijani has taken a firm stand that he will not surrender to US demands. He also criticized the Gulf-Arab countries for siding with the US and Israel. He also called for a review of pro-Western policies, including the Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Israel in 2020. Foreign diplomats saw him as someone who could act as a mediator to end the war. After Khamanei’s death, administrative duties were handed over to an interim council consisting of President Massoud Peseshkian, Judiciary Head Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ajei, and a senior cleric on the Guardian Council, but in reality key decisions were made by the civilian leadership, including Larijani. Larijani was the last in a chain of senior leaders linked to the political leadership under President Hassan Rouhani, who signed the first nuclear deal with the US in 2015, and to Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister during the conflict. There is an assessment in foreign diplomatic circles that Israel is targeting leaders who are looking for a political solution to the current crisis.
Iran’s Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib has been killed by Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Ismail was killed in an attack last night. Meanwhile, Iran has not yet responded in this regard. Khatib is the third prominent Iranian leader to be killed in two days.
“Today, there are some very important surprises that will intensify our war against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon,” Katz said. Attacks on Iran are increasing in strength. Iran’s Intelligence Minister Khatib was assassinated last night. He said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have given the Israeli military all the power to eliminate Iran’s top leadership.
Meanwhile, Iran has sentenced a man to death for spying for Israel. This is the first such reported execution since the start of the war between Israel and the United States. He was executed on the charge of handing over pictures and information of the country’s most important security sites to the Israeli spy agency Mossad. Kourush Kiwani was sentenced to death.
Kourush Kiwani was captured during the 12-day war with Israel last June. He reportedly received training from Mossad agents in six European countries and Tel Aviv. The execution was carried out on Wednesday morning.
Over the past few years, Iran has been closely monitoring Israeli spies trying to leak its nuclear and military secrets. In January 2024, Iran hanged four people for alleged links to the Mossad in a similar manner.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed that there have been missile and drone attacks on the UAE today from the side of Iran. According to the official notification, the defense forces are successfully countering the threats targeted at different parts of the country. In view of the current situation, the authorities asked the public to be extremely cautious and strictly follow the instructions of the security officials.
As part of the first major move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the US military has struck Iran’s missile sites with the most powerful bombs in its arsenal. The US Central Command said it carried out multiple attacks using 5,000-pound (about 2,268 kg) ‘deep penetrator’ bombs on Iran’s secure coastal missile bases near the strait.
“US forces have successfully fired 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs at missile sites off the coast of Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s anti-ship cruise missiles at these centers were a threat to international shipping through the strait,” Central Command X said.
Meanwhile, confirmation that Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani (67) was killed in an Israeli airstrike. ‘After striving all his life for the upliftment of Iran and the Islamic revolution, he finally fulfilled his wish and answered the call of truth. Martyrdom with pride’ – Iran’s semi-official Mehr Agency reported, quoting the Supreme National Security Council.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Basij Force commander Ghulam Riza Suleimani (62) was also killed in an airstrike last night. The Iranian military had earlier confirmed that Soleimani had been killed.
A missile landed near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. But Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Public Diplomacy and Information Center said there were no casualties or damage to the nuclear plant. The Center condemned the attack. Iran’s first nuclear power plant, Bushehr, began operation in 2011.
Israel is continuing to bomb Tehran, the capital of Iran, and Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Iran rejects recommendations put forward by mediating countries for a ceasefire with the US. It is reported that the new Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei said that there will be no time for peace without bringing the US and Israel to their knees. As the prospect of a resolution to the conflict fades, the three-week war has so far killed 1,444 people in Iran. 15 US soldiers were also killed.
Germany has made it clear that it does not intend to join the US-Israel alliance against Iran. EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas also stated that they are not interested in sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz against Iran and are looking for a diplomatic solution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Saeed Al Nahyan amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The two leaders discussed the war situation. In the discussion, the Prime Minister also mentioned about ensuring safe and free traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Saeed Al Nahyan. Eid greetings to him. The current situation in West Asia was also discussed. Modi reiterated his condemnation of all attacks in the UAE that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives and damage to the infrastructure of the people.
Reuters reported that the UAE may participate in US-led efforts to ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Quoting senior officials, Reuters said that discussions related to this are in progress but the final outline has not been prepared.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has come out against Joe Kent, director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC), who resigned in protest of the Trump administration’s military actions against Iran. Trump responded that it was a good thing that Joe Kent resigned. ‘It is good that he has resigned. Because Iran was not a threat, he said. Someone who works with us and thinks Iran is not the enemy is not smart or smart. “Iran is a big threat,” said Trump.