I'm John Batchler. I welcome my colleague and friend Jonathan Shanzer, the executive

director of the

Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. We're looking at the Iran conflict, certainly, but the

conflicts across the globe mean that the wider war that some members of NATO fear is upon us.

So we go to the leadership in Tehran, the regime itself, and this headline from Jerusalem.

Israel says Iran's de facto leader, in quotes, Ali Larajani, the siege force chief, killed overnight.

Iran publishes handwritten note from Larajani on unrelated matter in a stensible failed attempt

to show he's alive. Iran doesn't comment on apparent death of paramilitary commander Soleimani.

Jonathan, a very good evening to you. Thank you for joining. Who was or who is? I don't choose.

Laura Johnny, what's the significance to the regime?

Thank you. Oh, it's definitely past tense. It was. Al-Larjani was the secretary of the Supreme

National Security Council, former IRGC senior figure, and a trusted associate of Ali Khomeini, the now fallen Supreme

Leader of Iran.

Larjani was identified by Khomeini to be his designated successor in the event that

Khomeini was killed in battle.

Khomeini did this as he watched the armada gather in the waters surrounding Iran.

There was a clear understanding that he would be the man that continued the fight.

Well, now both men are gone, and we are watching the leadership of the Islamic Republic

get thinned out.

The Israelis have apparently excellent intelligence.

Larjani was in a safe house where he was found and then killed by an Israeli aircraft.

The head of the Basij, Mr. Soleimani, he was killed in a tent out in the middle of the field with

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