Larijani, Khamenei's Successor: "The US and Israel Will Regret It" [US Iran Airstrike]

"We Will Teach the International Devils an Unforgettable Lesson"

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, was killed in an airstrike on February 28, 2026 (local time). In the aftermath, Ali Larijani, a key figure within the Iranian regime, issued a warning to the United States and Israel.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that day, declaring, "We will make the Zionist (Israeli) criminals and shameless Americans regret their actions." He added, "Iran's brave soldiers and its great people will teach the oppressive international devils an unforgettable lesson."

According to a New York Times report on February 22, 2026, Secretary Larijani was known to be identified by Khamenei as the top candidate to oversee the theocratic system in the event of his incapacitation or death.

Secretary Larijani was once considered a 'pragmatic conservative' by Western observers. However, in January 2026, when anti-government protests intensified in Iran, he reportedly spearheaded a bloody crackdown using the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia. As a result, he is now regarded as a leading advocate of hardline measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.