Iran has confirmed the death of senior political figure Ali Larijani, a key member of the country’s security establishment, amid ongoing regional conflict.
His death comes at a critical moment for Iran, following the recent killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a wave of attacks that have targeted senior figures within the country’s leadership.
Larijani had emerged as one of the most influential figures in Iran’s leadership in recent months, playing a central role in national security and crisis management.
Earlier reports during the conflict had suggested he may have been targeted, though his status had remained unclear until confirmation of his death.
Analysts say his killing is likely to further complicate Iran’s internal power structure, already under strain following the loss of senior leadership figures, and could deepen uncertainty over the country’s political direction.
The developments come as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate, raising concerns about wider regional instability.
Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline on Friday after it was hit in a drone attack, disrupting a key route used to bypass shipping problems in the Strait of Hormuz.
BRICS members agreed on a joint declaration on Saturday, expected to condemn unilateral aggression by any country without naming individual states, according to sources cited by Reuters.
Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from a ferry fire, authorities said on Saturday, raising the death toll to 76 and leaving 13 people unaccounted for, as forensic teams faced the daunting task of identifying the victims.
Russian air strikes in several Ukrainian regions on Saturday killed six people, injured dozens and damaged residential buildings and infrastructure across the country, officials said.
Bulgaria is investigating the cause of a fire at a weapons storage facility operated by EMCO, including the possibility of sabotage and a link to a previous blaze at another of the company's facilities in August, the interior minister said.