Tehran [Iran], March 18 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s political infrastructure remains a “very solid structure” and will not suffer a “fatal blow to Iran’s leadership” after the confirmed killing of Ali Larijani.
Larijani, who served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was a pivotal figure in Tehran’s security apparatus. In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast after Larijani’s death was confirmed early Wednesday, Araghchi said the United States and Israel have not realized that the Iranian government “does not rely on a single individual.”
“I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point: The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions,” Araghchi said, adding that the “presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure.” He acknowledged individuals’ influence but stressed that the overall political system is resilient.
Araghchi recalled the earlier loss of the country’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who he said was killed during the initial phase of US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Despite that loss, he said, “the system continued” and “immediately provided a replacement.” He added that the same would occur if other officials were killed, noting even the foreign minister’s position would be filled if needed.
The 67-year-old Larijani, a close associate of the late Ali Khamenei and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei, was killed following an attack on Monday night, marking the highest-ranking loss in Tehran’s leadership since the conflict began 19 days ago.
Iranian state media also confirmed Tuesday that Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij forces, was killed in an “American-Zionist enemy” attack. Soleimani led the internal security force for six years and was seen as a key figure in the military response.
Araghchi reiterated that Tehran did not start the escalation. “I will repeat: This war is not our war,” he said, accusing the United States of initiating the conflict and saying Washington “is responsible for all the consequences of this war—human and financial—whether for Iran, for the region, or for the entire world,” adding that “the United States must be held accountable.” (ANI)
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