Ali Larijani's Social Media Account Posts Message After Israel Claims to Have Killed Him

Israel has claimed to have killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security chief, in its latest military strike against Iran. However, shortly after Israel made this claim, Larijani’s official social media account posted a status containing a handwritten note.

According to AFP on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, Tehran has not yet confirmed Larijani’s death. In Larijani’s social media post, there was also no response to Israel’s claim.

The social media post was a tribute to 84 Iranian sailors who died when their frigate was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean in early March.

The note, which did not include a date of writing, was published on Larijani’s official X and Telegram accounts.

“The martyrdom of the brave soldiers of the Naval Forces of the Islamic Republic on the Dena ship is part of the sacrifice of the valiant nation that has emerged at this point of struggle against international oppression,” the note read, written in black ink.

The sailors died when the IRIS Dena was torpedoed on 4 March off the coast of Sri Lanka, in an incident that expanded the Middle Eastern conflict to the Indian Ocean.

“Their memory will forever remain in the hearts of the Iranian nation, and this martyrdom will strengthen the foundation of the Islamic Republic’s armed forces for years to come in the structure of the armed services,” it added.

Iran has been at war with Israel and the United States since 28 February, when they launched an attack that killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, triggering a conflict that has spread across the Middle East.

Khamenei’s death was confirmed by Iran several hours after Israel and the United States announced it.