Iran has confirmed that its top security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, alongside his son and senior aides, a major setback for Tehran’s leadership since the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the conflict.

In response to his death, Iran has launched missile strikes on Israel, while targets in Lebanon have also been hit, raising concerns of a broader regional escalation.

What does Larijani’s assassination mean for the balance of power in Iran? Could it undermine diplomatic efforts in the region? 

On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, to unpack the latest developments.