Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed Tuesday the death of its chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike. His son and bodyguards also died.
Larijani was a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and architect of Iran's security and nuclear policy. He served 12 years as parliament speaker and led the Supreme National Security Council twice.
Though seen as pragmatic and diplomatic compared to hardliners, he played a central role in the violent crackdown on mass protests in January-prompting U.S. sanctions last month.