TEHRAN (Azat TV) – Ali Larijani, a prominent Iranian political figure and top aide to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has publicly vowed revenge on his X account following reports that he and other key Iranian leaders were targeted in recent Israeli strikes. His statement, posted on Saturday, February 28, 2026, underscores the heightened tensions gripping the region and marks a significant public declaration amidst ongoing conflict and unconfirmed reports of casualties among the Iranian leadership.
Larijani’s post on X, which read, “We will make the Zionist criminals and the shameless Americans regret their actions. The valorous soldiers and great nation of Iran will give an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors,” came shortly after Channel 12 reported that he was among approximately 30 senior Iranian officials and military chiefs targeted in the initial Israeli strikes. This direct threat from a figure of Larijani’s stature signals a hardening of Iran’s public stance and a potential escalation in the rhetoric surrounding the conflict.
Larijani’s Rising Influence Amidst Strikes
The pledge of revenge from Ali Larijani carries particular weight given his recently expanded role within Iran’s political structure. Following a 12-day conflict with Israel, Khamenei appointed Larijani as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, despite his previous disqualification from running in the presidential election. This appointment cemented his position as a crucial figure in national security, foreign policy, and wartime planning, leading some outlets like Eghtesad24 to describe him as a “crisis manager” operating across multiple strategic arenas. Reports in Western media, including The New York Times and Le Figaro, have highlighted Larijani’s growing influence, suggesting a potential shift in power dynamics within Tehran.
Targeting of Key Iranian Leaders Confirmed
Initial Israeli strikes on Iran reportedly targeted a wide array of high-ranking officials. According to Israel’s Kan state broadcaster, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself was a primary target, with satellite imagery circulating online appearing to show his compound in central Tehran largely destroyed by an estimated 30 bombs. While Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Khamenei was alive “as far as I know” and that “almost all officials of the country are safe, secure and alive,” unconfirmed reports suggest casualties among other top figures. These include Khamenei’s military secretary and possibly his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was widely considered a potential successor. Other reported targets included the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Gen. Mohammad Pakpour; Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh; President Masoud Pezeshkian; and Esmail Qaani, head of the IRGC’s al-Quds force, among others. Former IRGC Navy chief Ali Shamkhani was also targeted and reportedly killed, according to Iran International.
Public Reaction and Government Response to Strikes
The strikes have plunged Iran into a complex state of fear, jubilation, and uncertainty. Despite a near-total internet shutdown, dropping to a reported minimum of around four percent, some citizens used circumvention tools to share footage and communicate abroad. Videos circulated on X depicted a mix of reactions, from celebratory clapping, ululations, and honking cars in Tehran and Shiraz following news of official deaths, to expressions of conflicted emotions from those who view war as undesirable. One X user described a “strange morning” filled with a mix of “worry, a sense of vindication, anger, hope, scattered thoughts, and many other contradictory emotions.” The government, for its part, advised residents of Tehran and other major cities to evacuate to safer areas, with spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani stating that arrangements had been made in tourist provinces. A political activist in Tehran suggested to Iran International that this evacuation advice might also be a measure to prevent collective opposition movements or attempts to seize government institutions amidst the perceived threat of regime change.
Larijani’s swift and public pledge of revenge, immediately following reports of his targeting and amid broader strikes on Iranian leadership, signals a deliberate move to project strength and resolve, potentially aiming to rally internal support while sending a clear message of retaliation to adversaries.