Ali Larijani, a seasoned Iranian politician, stated on Sunday that a provisional leadership council would be established following an airstrike that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He reemerged last year as a significant figure within the security establishment.

He has been overseeing a diverse range of responsibilities, from nuclear discussions to Tehran’s regional relationships and its harsh crackdown on domestic dissent.

A prominent figure within the establishment and a member of one of the nation’s foremost clerical families, Larijani had been managing Iran’s attempts to secure a nuclear agreement with the United States—only a month after he was sanctioned by Washington for allegedly orchestrating a lethal crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

He charged that the US and Israel were attempting to exploit and fragment Iran, cautioning “secessionist groups” of severe repercussions should they take any action, according to state television on Sunday, almost a day after both nations initiated a series of assaults on Iran.

On Sunday, the IDF announced that it had eliminated 40 significant Iranian military leaders, including Iran’s chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, just moments after targeting Khamenei.

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Since his appointment in August as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Larijani has occupied high-ranking positions throughout a career characterized by his loyalty to Khamenei and a reputation for fostering pragmatic relationships with the often-competing factions within the system.

Last month, his role as a key strategist for Khamenei was highlighted by a visit to Oman, which serves as a mediator, to set the stage for indirect nuclear discussions with the US. This occurred as Washington increased its military presence in the Middle East, aiming to extract concessions from Iran prior to potential strikes.

In recent months, Larijani has undertaken multiple visits to his key ally Moscow to engage in discussions about various aspects of security cooperation, further indicating his re-emergence in high-level diplomatic efforts.

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Ali Larijani believes the nuclear matter is ‘solvable’

Ali Larijani, who previously led the SNSC two decades ago, has taken up the role once again after last year’s 12-day conflict in the air between Iran and Israel, which involved the US, marking his formal return to a central position within Iran’s security framework.

Several of his public remarks regarding the nuclear matter conveyed a practical perspective.

“I believe this matter can be resolved,” Larijani stated in an interview with Oman state television last month, discussing the negotiations with the US. “If the Americans are worried about Iran’s potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon, that issue can be managed.”

Following the surge of anti-government sentiment in January, Washington criticized his position on the security council.

As per a US government statement outlining sanctions imposed on him and other officials due to the crackdown, Ali Larijani played a key role in efforts to suppress the wave of protests that occurred in Iran in January.

“Larijani was among the initial Iranian officials to advocate for aggression in reaction to the rightful requests of the Iranian populace,” a statement from the US Treasury noted on January 15, indicating that Larijani had acted under Khamenei’s direction.

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“Once you uncover a technology, that discovery cannot be taken from you,” he stated to PBS Frontline in September 2025. “It’s akin to being the creator of a device, and even if the device is taken from you, you can still recreate it.”

Ali Larijani has frequently traveled to Moscow to engage with President Vladimir Putin, assisting Khamenei in managing a crucial ally and global power that serves as a counterbalance to the pressures from Trump.

Ali Larijani was also given the responsibility of promoting discussions with China, resulting in a 25-year partnership agreement in 2021.

In 2005, he made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency. Subsequently, he attempted to run in the 2021 and 2024 elections but was prevented from doing so by the Guardian Council, which referenced concerns such as personal conduct and familial connections overseas.

Ali Larijani was born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1958 into a prominent Iranian clerical family. He relocated to Iran during his childhood and later obtained a PhD in philosophy. Many of his siblings have also occupied high-ranking roles within the establishment, including positions in the judiciary and the foreign ministry.

In January, one of Ali Larijani’s daughters was removed from her medical teaching role at Emory University in the United States due to protests from Iranian-American activists who were outraged by his involvement in the crackdown on demonstrations that occurred that month.