Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Iran’s newly elected Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Wednesday warned of retaliation following the killing of senior security official Ali Larijani in a strike blamed on the United States and Israel.
In a strongly worded statement, Khamenei said “criminals will soon pay for his blood,” signalling a direct response to those he held responsible.
The killing marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and comes amid a series of targeted strikes on senior Iranian figures.
STRIKES TARGET TOP IRANIAN LEADERSHIP
The war involving Iran, the United States and Israel has seen the killing of top leadership figures, starting with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders, and has since expanded to include repeated strikes on high-ranking officials. Larijani’s killing is among the most consequential, given his central role in Iran’s security and political establishment.
Larijani was widely seen as one of the Islamic Republic’s most influential power-brokers, with a rare ability to bridge competing centres of power within the system.
He combined clerical legitimacy, rooted in his prominent religious family, with the experience of a seasoned political operator who maintained close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Officials said this made him a crucial intermediary capable of aligning military developments with political strategy, a role few others can easily replicate.
DECISION-MAKING UNDER STRAIN
Senior Iranian officials indicated that Larijani’s death could complicate decision-making in Tehran at a critical moment in the war. As targeted killings reduce the number of experienced figures within the system, the ability to coordinate between political leadership and military strategy is expected to come under strain.
Analysts warn that the shrinking pool of senior officials may slow responses and limit policy flexibility as the conflict continues.
Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute said the loss of multiple senior figures, including Larijani, could disrupt Iran’s political process and affect continuity in policymaking.
SYSTEM UNDER PRESSURE
While Iran’s political system has historically been structured to absorb such losses, officials say the current wave of strikes presents a deeper, structural challenge.
Replacing figures like Larijani during an active conflict is significantly more difficult, raising the risk of disarray within the leadership.
With repeated strikes targeting senior officials and Iran vowing retaliation, tensions remain high, and the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation.
– Ends
With agency inputs
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
