Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed him as a top adviser just days before his own death in US-Israeli attacks. Veteran Iranian politician Ali Larijani has since re-emerged as one of the most influential figures in the country’s security establishment following Khamenei’s killing.
On Sunday, Larijani signaled that an interim leadership council would be formed to oversee the transition, suggesting that senior officials are struggling to maintain institutional continuity amid an unprecedented political crisis.
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Larijani, long considered an establishment member of one of Iran’s most prominent clerical families, has overseen a wide-ranging portfolio in recent years spanning nuclear negotiations, regional diplomacy and domestic security policy.
Return to the center of Iran’s security apparatus
Larijani, who was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in August, formally returned to the core of Iran’s decision-making system after last year’s 12-day air standoff between Iran, Israel and the United States. His appointment bolstered a career defined by loyalty to Khamenei and the ability to navigate competing factions within the Islamic Republic’s political structure.
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His influence was underscored by diplomatic missions to Oman aimed at preparing indirect nuclear negotiations with Washington, even as the United States increased its military presence in the Middle East in the months leading up to the strikes. Larijani also visited Moscow several times and deepened security coordination with Russia, Tehran’s key strategic partner.
Iranian state television said Larijani accused the United States and Israel of trying to loot and disintegrate Iran and warned that “secessionist groups” would face a harsh response if they attempted destabilizing actions.
A central role in nuclear diplomacy
Larijani has consistently characterized Iran’s nuclear dispute with Western powers as negotiable. Speaking on Oman’s state television last month, he took a pragmatic tone, saying: “In my opinion, this issue is solvable. If the concern of the Americans is that Iran should not move towards acquiring a nuclear weapon, it can be solvable.”
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The former chief nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2007 defended Tehran’s right to enrich uranium while advocating diplomacy as a means of easing tensions with the West. In this earlier period, he famously likened European incentives to stop nuclear fuel production to “exchanging a pearl for a candy bar”.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, while the United States and Israel say Tehran is ultimately seeking nuclear weapons.
Sanctions and controversy over suppression of protests
Larijani’s revival has also been accompanied by international controversy. Washington imposed sanctions on him in January, saying he had directed a violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government demonstrations.
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A US Treasury statement issued on January 15 said: “Larijani was one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people,” adding that he was acting on Khamenei’s orders.
Human rights groups estimate that thousands of people have been killed during the crackdown on the protests, which have been widely described as the worst domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Larijani expressed limited sympathy for the economic grievances that led to the demonstrations and strongly condemned armed opposition groups. State media quoted him as saying, “Popular protests must be completely separated from these terrorist-like groups,” and later described the rioters as an “urban quasi-terrorist group.”
A long political career spanning parliament and diplomacy
Larijani served as parliament speaker from 2008 to 2020, a period that included negotiating the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers after nearly two years of complex diplomacy. The deal later collapsed after the United States withdrew in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first term as president.
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Larijani also played a role in strengthening Iran’s strategic partnerships, including negotiations with China that resulted in a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021. His engagement with Russia included meetings with President Vladimir Putin, reflecting Tehran’s efforts to counter Western pressure through closer relations with major powers.
Larijani has repeatedly argued that Iran’s nuclear expertise cannot be eliminated. In an interview with PBS Frontline in September 2025, he said, “Because once you discover a technology, they can’t take that discovery away from you. It’s like if you were the inventor of a machine and the machine was stolen from you. You can still make it again.”
Political failures and personal background
Despite his establishment, Larijani’s political ambitions faced obstacles. After an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2005, the Guardian Council barred him from running in both the 2021 and 2024 presidential elections, reportedly due to concerns related to lifestyle standards and family ties abroad.
Larijani was born in 1958 in Najaf, Iraq, into a prominent clerical family. He moved to Iran as a child and later earned a doctorate in philosophy. Several of his brothers held high posts in Iran’s judiciary and diplomatic institutions.
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Larijani’s family has also faced international scrutiny. One of his daughters was fired from a medical teaching role at Emory University in the United States in January after protests by Iranian-American activists angered by his alleged role in suppressing demonstrations.
A transitional figure in a moment of uncertainty
With Iran entering a period of national mourning following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and the attacks reportedly killing high-ranking military officials, including Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Larijani’s position puts him at the center of efforts to stabilize the political system.
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Observers view Iran’s Larijani as a pragmatic operator capable of balancing ideological loyalty and diplomatic engagement — a combination that could prove crucial as Iran navigates succession, internal turmoil and mounting international pressure in the wake of a deep leadership vacuum.
