Iranian military is not worried about the assassination of Larijani, Khamenei left a contingency plan before his death, now it's Israel's turn to worry!
On March 18, Iran confirmed that Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Suleimani, commander of the Basij militia, among other key figures, were confirmed dead. These two people were actually decision-makers for many important matters in Iran, and Israel would have expected Tehran to be in chaos. However, this time, Iran's response was surprisingly calm, even said to be well-organized. Why? Because Khamenei had already made a contingency plan in advance.
Khamenei designed a "backup leadership" system for Iran. According to newly disclosed information, Iran has pre-designated 3 to 7 replacement personnel for all key government officials and military commanders. This means that even if the first, second, or third leaders are suddenly gone, the fourth in line can immediately take over, the state machine continues to operate, and the military command chain remains intact.
This system is essentially a decentralized survival strategy, specifically designed to deal with high-intensity, high-precision targeted killings. A source revealed that these backup personnel are not only on record but also regularly participate in senior decision-making simulations, emergency drills, and even hold some confidential authorities. In other words, they are not "backups," but "starting substitutes" ready to step in at any moment.
This deep preparation has significantly reduced the effectiveness of the U.S. and Israeli "decapitation" tactics. You kill one, there are six more waiting; you bomb once, the command system still operates. It's like playing whack-a-mole, just hit one down, three more pop up, making it impossible to clear the field completely. Over the past decade, Israel has relied on the combination of "precision strikes + psychological intimidation." By assassinating key figures, creating panic, and dismantling the opponent's command system, thereby gaining strategic initiative.
From Suleimani to Khamenei, and now Larijani, Israel has been masterfully executing this tactic. But this time, Iran has told the world with facts: your knife may be sharp, but it cannot cut through my carefully woven net. For Israel, the real challenge has just begun. When "decapitation" no longer paralyzes the opponent, when deterrence loses its psychological effect, how long can its military advantage last?
Gao Dao believes that if each operation only results in a more united, more alert, and better-prepared Iran, then is this high-cost, high-risk tactic still worth continuing? These questions are likely keeping Tel Aviv's decision-makers awake at night.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859965920294988/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.