Instead of foregrounding Larijani’s role within a regime accused of violently suppressing protests, coverage leaned into biography. Scholar. Pragmatist. A man of ideas.

Larijani helped direct Iran’s regional strategy, including the use of proxies to attack Israel, the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the rejection of diplomatic efforts that would have halted that program.

'Larijani and the commander of the Basij were eliminated tonight and joined the head of the destruction program deep in hell,' Katz said.

'Beware that you do not become the ones who disappear,' Larijani wrote.