Ali Larijani, as reported by Al Jazeera, occupies an important place in Iranian politics, especially after the death of Khamenei.
Throughout his career, Larijani has been characterized as a balanced and pragmatic politician who has written books on Kant and negotiated with Western countries on the nuclear program.
However, on March 1, 2025, his rhetoric underwent sharp changes.
In his speech on state television following the airstrikes by the US and Israel, which resulted in the deaths of Khamenei and IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour, Larijani delivered an emotional address.
“The heart of the Iranian nation has been ignited by America and the Zionists, and we will make them regret it,” he wrote on social media. “The brave soldiers and the great people of Iran will give an unforgettable lesson to these international oppressors.”
Larijani accused US President Donald Trump of falling into an “Israeli trap,” and now he finds himself at the center of Iran's biggest crisis since 1979.
He is expected to become a key figure in the three-member transitional council that will lead the country after Khamenei's death.
So who is this man who is set to be responsible for Iran's security strategy amid the conflict with the US and Israel?
The Iranian "Kennedys"
Larijani was born on June 3, 1958, in Najaf, Iraq, into a wealthy family from Amol. His dynasty is so influential that in 2009, Time magazine referred to them as the “Kennedys of Iran.”
His father, Mirza Hashem Amoli, was a well-known religious figure. Larijani's brothers have also held important positions in the country, including roles in the judiciary and the Assembly of Experts—a body responsible for electing and overseeing the Supreme Leader.
Larijani married Farideh Motahari, the daughter of Morteza Motahari, a close associate of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini.
Despite his conservative roots, his children have chosen different paths: his daughter Fatemeh graduated from medical university in Tehran and completed her residency in Cleveland, USA.
Mathematician and Philosopher
Larijani stands out from his peers by having received a secular education.
In 1979, he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics and computer science from Sharif University of Technology, and later obtained a master's and doctoral degree in Western philosophy from Tehran University, focusing on Kant.
Political activity became the main direction of his career.
After the 1979 revolution, he began his career in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), later serving as Minister of Culture under President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1994-1997) and heading the state broadcasting company (IRIB) from 1994 to 2004, where he faced criticism for restrictive measures.
From 2008 to 2020, he served three times as Speaker of Parliament (Majlis), playing a key role in shaping the country's policies.
Return to Security
Larijani attempted to run for president in 2005 as a conservative candidate but did not make it to the second round. However, that same year, he was appointed Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and chief negotiator for the nuclear program.
In 2007, his views on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's nuclear policy led to his resignation.
Becoming Speaker of Parliament in 2008, Larijani was able to strengthen his influence and maintain a connection to the nuclear issue, which led to the parliament's approval of the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.
After stepping down as Speaker in 2020, he again attempted to run for president in 2021 but was disqualified by the Guardian Council. A similar situation occurred in 2024 when his candidacy was also rejected.
The Council did not provide explanations, but analysts believe this was done to support the hardliner Ibrahim Raisi, who won the elections. Larijani criticized the disqualification as “opaque.”
Nevertheless, in August 2025, he returned to the position of Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council by appointment of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Since his return, his position has become increasingly hardline. In October 2025, he terminated the cooperation agreement with the IAEA, stating that the agency's reports are no longer valid.
Diplomacy Amid War
Despite his hardline stance, Larijani remains a pragmatic politician open to compromise, which is linked to his previous support for the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Just weeks before the current escalation of the conflict, he was engaged in indirect negotiations with the US.
In February, during talks mediated by Oman, he reported that Tehran had not received specific proposals from Washington and accused Israel of attempting to sabotage diplomacy to start a war.
Before the onset of US and Israeli attacks, he characterized Iran's position in an interview with Al Jazeera as “positive,” noting that the US realized that a military option was not viable. “Moving to negotiations is the rational path,” he argued.
However, the subsequent airstrikes, which began on February 28, destroyed the possibilities for diplomatic dialogue.
In his latest address, Larijani assured the Iranian people that plans for a succession of power in accordance with the constitution have already been developed and warned the US that they are mistaken in believing that the killing of leaders will undermine Iran's stability.
“We do not intend to attack countries in the region,” he added, “but we are targeting any bases used by the United States.”
The pragmatic approach seemed to have vanished—at least for now. Larijani denied reports of a desire to resume negotiations with the US, stating that Iran “will not negotiate” with Washington.
Instead, following Khamenei's death and amid the escalation of the conflict, Larijani promised to respond to the actions of the US and Israel “with a force they have never encountered before.”
The record of Ali Larijani: an Iranian politician preparing a “lesson” for the US first appeared on K-News.
