By essentially eliminating Iran’s leadership, Israel continues its strikes weakening the Iranian regime, in the era following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel reportedly killed four officials, one of whom was Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief, who was considered the de facto coordinator of Iranian strategy after the destabilization of the supreme leadership and the regime’s No. 2, under Mojtaba Khamenei.
Foreign affairs columnist and author Tim Marshall, speaking to Sky News, argued that Larijani’s assassination is “probably just as significant” as the assassination of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Larijani was running the show with the Revolutionary Guards. I think the clerics are being pushed aside,” he told Sky News.
Larijani: The handwritten note Iran uses to deny death reports
Iran, after Israel announced Larijani’s death, published a handwritten note claiming to be from Larijani – an apparent denial of his death. In reality however, as the expert comments, Tehran has not provided any evidence proving he is alive.
“Larijani was the man who appeared on television 24 hours after the supreme leader’s assassination,” he added, wanting to show the position he held in the regime the day after Khamenei’s death.
The expert also noted that Iran has not provided sufficient evidence that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive either.
The case with Khamenei’s son
“I think the balance of probabilities is that something unpleasant has happened to both,” he said. Regarding Larijani, he further noted that he believes this will not constitute a turning point for war de-escalation.
“He’s a hardliner, but he’s also a pragmatic hardliner. He’s not a vicious circle. So if he goes, what you’re left with is, I think, full control of the IRGC (Revolutionary Guards). I think the clerics have really been sidelined,” he stated.
“Larijani comes from a very wealthy clerical family and was very close to the late supreme leader. So he was one of the last links to the clerical side,” he emphasized.
Reza Pahlavi: They found the fate they deserved
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s former shah, says that Larijani, along with several other high-ranking Iranian leaders that Israel claims to have killed, “have found the fate they deserved.”
“Ali Larijani, Gholamreza Soleimani and several other notorious commanders and perpetrators of the ruthless slaughter of Iran’s best sons have found the fate they deserved,” Pahlavi wrote in a social media post.
Pahlavi even called on Revolutionary Guards who want to separate their position from the regime to do so immediately. “I warn the guardians of corruption: lay down your weapons, separate yourself from the army of darkness and join the army of light,” he wrote characteristically.
