The Israeli Minister of Defence states that they have killed the real leader in Iran, Ali Larijani. His death is a major blow to the regime, which now stands without a leader. The newly appointed Supreme Leader lies in a coma, and it is uncertain whether he is alive.

Larijani has served as President of the National Assembly. He could have become the new Supreme Leader were it not for the fact that he lacked the decisive qualification: he was not a jurist in Islamic law, fiqh.