France, March 18 -- Larijani, 67, is the most prominent Iranian figure killed since Israel and the United States launched air attacks on the Iranian capital Tehran on 28 February, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Iran's response to the assassination of the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council will be decisive and regrettable," Iranian army chief Amir Hatami said in a statement.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launched missiles at central Israel as retaliation. "The pure blood of this great martyr ... will be a source of honour, power and national awakening against the front of global arrogance," the Guards said in a statement.

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies said funerals will be held on Wednes...