TEHRAN: Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami has promised a “decisive” response following the death of senior security official Ali Larijani, who was killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes.
Larijani is the highest-ranking Iranian official to be killed since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei assumed office, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region, BBC reported.
In a related development, two people were killed in Tel Aviv after an Iranian missile strike targeted the Israeli city, intensifying fears of a broader military confrontation.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump criticized NATO and other allies, claiming he was informed they “don’t want to get involved” in a potential conflict with Iran. His remarks come after several nations declined US requests to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
Amid growing regional instability, a senior US counterterrorism official resigned, stating that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,” reflecting disagreements within Washington over the country’s approach to Tehran.
For ordinary Iranians, the crisis has heightened fear and uncertainty. One woman told BBC correspondent Fergal Keane that leaving her home feels like “gambling with my life,” citing the constant threat of airstrikes and repression.
(Inputs from BBC)
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