Iran has not confirmed the death of its security chief, Ali Larijani, who Israel says it killed in an overnight air strike. But if true, it would remove one of the Islamic Republic's most experienced and influential policy makers at a critical moment.
Larijani was not a military commander, but he was a central figure in shaping Iran's strategic decisions.
As secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, he sat at the heart of decision making on war, diplomacy, and national security.
His voice carried weight across the system, particularly in managing Iran's confrontation with the United States and Israel.
After the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Larijani struck a defiant tone, signalling that Iran was prepared for a long conflict.
