\n<\/p>\n
Ali Larijani, one of the most powerful figures in Iran\u2019s Islamic regime, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces after months of issuing threats against President Donald Trump and U.S. service members.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar confirmed the strike, noting that Larijani had been the subject of a $10 million U.S. bounty.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAli Larijani had a $10 million prize on his head. We did it for free,\u201d Sa\u2019ar said.<\/span><\/p>\n The 67-year-old hardliner had recently emerged as a central voice for Tehran after being appointed head of the National Security Council following the 12-day war. He was accused of leading the regime\u2019s brutal January crackdown on protests that left more than 30,000 dead, according to some estimates. The U.S. sanctioned him for his role, <\/span>claiming he<\/span><\/a> was one of the first leaders to \u201ccall for violence\u201d against the protesters.<\/span><\/p>\n In the weeks leading up to his death, Larijani used social media to deliver increasingly explicit warnings to the United States, including threats against President Donald Trump and vows to \u201chunt down\u201d U.S. servicemembers.<\/span><\/p>\n A longtime regime insider, Larijani held numerous senior roles, including head of Iran\u2019s state broadcaster, chief nuclear negotiator, security adviser to former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and speaker of parliament until 2020. He also had deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, and served as a commander during the Iran-Iraq War.<\/span><\/p>\n While some left-wing journalists have <\/span>described<\/span><\/a> him as a pragmatic person to negotiate with, he said in <\/span>January<\/span><\/a> that Iran would have \u201cno choice\u201d but to acquire a nuclear weapon if the United States or Israel attacked. On March 1, following the U.S. attack, he <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> that Iran \u201cwill not negotiate with the United States.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Since January, he has been running Iran, according to <\/span>The New York Times<\/span><\/a>, after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei turned to him to steer the country through mass protests and the growing threat of war with the United States and Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n Last week, Larijani posted photos and videos of himself attending a Quds Day protest in Iran, appearing among crowds of civilians in an apparent show of confidence in the regime.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein\u2019s island!\u201d he <\/span>tweeted<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In another\u00a0post<\/a> about the protest, he said that the combination of brave people, brave officials, and brave leaders \u201ccannot be defeated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Larijani didn\u2019t hide his rhetoric. In the weeks before his assassination, he flooded social media with tough rhetoric and threats targeting the United States military, regional partners, and President Donald Trump. Here are some of them:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n