{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/69b986c59472186e415b1d17?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"‘Huge void’ in Iran regime after security chief 'assassinated'","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1773766173117-836acf38-b1bd-4e47-b9b5-38a57628b249.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief, is believed to have been assassinated today by Israel in what could be a huge blow to the Iranian regime.</p><p><br></p><p>Roland Oliphant is joined by Akhtar Makoii to explain who Larijani was and why his death could be more significant for Tehran than Khamenei’s amid the ongoing US war.</p><p><br></p><p>Plus, Roland speaks to opposition figure Ali Safavi, part of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The NCRI is essentially Iran’s anti-monarchy opposition group and is led by the highly controversial People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) - previously designated as terrorists.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>MEK supporter Safavi argues that an armed uprising rather than a war is needed to overthrow the Islamic Republic. He also discusses the MEK’s chequered history, the Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, and the enormous divisions among Iranian diaspora opposition groups.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>CONTRIBUTORS:</p><p><br></p><p>Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant</p><p>Akhtar Makoii, foreign correspondent</p><p>Ali Safavi, National Council of Resistance of Iran @amsafavi</p><p><br></p><p>CONTENT REFERENCED:</p><p><br></p><p>Larijani’s death is more significant than that of supreme leader</p><p>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/17/ali-larijani-killing-hits-iran-more-than-ayatollah-death/</p><p><br></p><p>Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan</p><p>Executive Producer: Louisa Wells</p><p><br></p><p>► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning.&nbsp;telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor</p><p><br></p><p>► EMAIL US:</p><p>Contact the team on&nbsp;battlelines@telegraph.co.uk</p><p><br></p><p>► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES:</p><p>Find all our latest Iran coverage here:&nbsp;https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/</p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}