Larijani was one of Khamenei's closest confidants and had emerged as the de facto face of the Iranian government in the chaos following the supreme leader's death. A veteran conservative who previously served as speaker of parliament and head of the judiciary, he was considered a linchpin of the regime's political and security establishment.
The strikes come as the war enters its third week with no sign of de-escalation. Oil prices have continued climbing, with Brent crude reaching $103.20 a barrel after Iran successfully attacked Gulf production facilities for the first time.
Multiple sources across the New York Times, Guardian, Financial Times, and NPR confirmed the Israeli claims, though all noted that Iran had not yet issued a statement. The targeted killing of such a senior figure could either accelerate negotiations or trigger a further escalation cycle.