The head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, has been confirmed killed in an airstrike linked to a joint US-Israeli operation.
According to the semi-official Fars news agency, Larijani, 67, died at his daughter's home on the eastern outskirts of Tehran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also confirmed the death.
Larijani was one of the most influential figures in the Islamic Republic's power structure, with close ties to Ali Khamenei. He played a key role in shaping Iran's national security and geopolitical strategy for decades.
Coming from a family of influential clerics after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Larijani was known as a pragmatic but staunch defender of the country's theocratic system of government.
His career spanned a range of strategic positions, including as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq war, head of the national broadcaster, and member of the Supreme National Security Council. He also served as speaker of parliament for 12 years.
As a key insider to Iran's top leadership, Larijani was directly involved in nuclear negotiations with the West, managing regional relations and dealing with domestic tensions.
Although seen as more moderate than hardliners, he has been linked to the government's crackdown, including his role in the suppression of mass protests that killed thousands and led to sanctions by Washington.
After the conflict erupted on February 28, Larijani was among the first figures to speak out against the attacks on Iran, while issuing stern warnings to any party trying to foment internal instability.
His death was seen as a major blow to Iran's political structure, especially in the context of the power struggle after Ali Khamenei's absence. Influence has increasingly shifted to military groups such as the Revolutionary Guard, thus diminishing the role of traditional political players in the country's power landscape.
