Iran's Ali Larijani Killed in US-Israeli Airstrike

Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian politician and architect of Iran's security policy, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike on March 17. Larijani, 67, was a close adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and held significant roles, including head of the Iran===Supreme National Security Council and chief nuclear negotiator. His death, along with his son Alireza Bayat and Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani, marks a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Larijani was known for his pragmatic approach to diplomacy but also for his alleged central role in crushing mass protests in January, which led to U.S. sanctions. His assassination further destabilizes Iran's leadership following Ali Khamenei's death and is seen as a failure of his nuclear policy, which aimed to build atomic capability without provoking an attack. The event is expected to intensify regional tensions and power struggles within Iran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps potentially gaining more influence.