The assassination of Iran’s top national security official, Ali Larijani, marks the most senior Iranian official killed since the opening hours of the war with Iran, and sends a signal that the United States and Israel are ready to begin going down the chain of command if Tehran remains implacable.

Larijani was one of the most influential Iranian officials for nearly two decades and had served in one of the highest posts in Iran, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, since August 2025. He was widely viewed as the de facto leader of Iran following the assassination of then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei, running the affairs of the wartime government amid the apparent incapacitation of current supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei. His assassination sends a signal to Iran’s high command that even with wartime precautions, Iran doesn’t have the ability to protect anyone in the country.