Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran's leadership

Israel's assassination of Ali Larijani, Iran's security chief and head of the Supreme National Security Council, has eliminated a key strategic decision-maker during an extremely vulnerable period for the Islamic Republic. Larijani, considered a pragmatic hardliner, was simultaneously managing Iran's ongoing war, widespread domestic protests that have killed thousands, and stalled nuclear negotiations when he was killed as part of a broader Israeli campaign targeting senior Iranian leadership. His death, following the recent killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, leaves critical national security issues without experienced leadership and may shift more power to military forces who have been granted broader autonomous authority.