Larijani’s assassination strikes Iran at the top. But can it break what lies beneath?

Team TOI Plus
Mar 18, 2026 | 15:56 IST
Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's National Security Council, speaking to reporters in Tenran, Iran in May 2024 (Image: NYT)

The killing of Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security coordinator, marks one of the deepest strikes yet at the regime’s core. But even a blow at the top may not be enough to dismantle a system built to survive such losses.

Israel’s killing of Ali Larijani on March 17 marks one of the most consequential moments in its ongoing campaign against Iran’s leadership.

Coming weeks after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Larijani’s death removes a central figure who had effectively stepped in to coordinate the state’s response. He was not just another senior official; he was widely seen as the regime’s operational anchor in wartime — a bridge between political authority and military execution.
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