The killing of Iran's most influential powerbroker, Ali Larijani, has pushed the Islamic Republic into a more uncertain phase, complicating decision-making and narrowing its options amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict. As experienced officials are targeted, the pool of figures capable of managing both war and statecraft is shrinking. Four senior Iranian officials said there were few figures in the establishment who could translate battlefield realities into political strategy, a gap that could slow coordination. The Islamic Republic has been structured to withstand the loss of senior officials, but replacing Larijoni as a powerbroader under wartime conditions will be more difficult. The death is likely to tilt the system further towards its security institutions, tightening control but reducing flexibility in prosecuting the war and shaping any eventual endgame.