Iran's Khamenei vows retaliation for top security official's assassination

2026-03-19 - 06:10

Retaliation vow In a statement on the social media platform X, Khamenei expressed "profound grief" over the death of Larijani, who served as Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The supreme leader characterized the slain official as "a man of knowledge, foresight and wisdom," noting that nearly five decades of service across political, military, security, cultural and administrative fields had established him as an eminent national figure. Assassination details Khamenei asserted that Larijani's assassination "attests to his importance and the enmity harbored by the enemies of Islam toward him," warning that "shedding the blood of such people will only make it stronger." Iranian authorities confirmed the strike also killed Larijani's son Morteza, his aide Alireza Bayat, several council staff members, and bodyguards. "Every drop of blood has its due retribution," the supreme leader declared. Escalating conflict The killing comes amid a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran launched Feb. 28 that has reportedly claimed approximately 1,300 lives, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting American military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global markets and aviation. Türkiye's concern As the conflict continues to expand across the region, Türkiye maintains its call for de-escalation and protection of civilian infrastructure, emphasizing that further military actions risk drawing more countries into the widening war. Ankara has urged all parties to exercise restraint while pursuing diplomatic solutions to prevent additional loss of life and regional destabilization.