Longtime insider shaped Iran’s security, nuclear policy and parliament for decades
Ali Larijani, one of Iran’s most prominent political insiders who held key roles across the country’s security, media and legislative institutions, has died at 67.
Born in Najaf, Iraq, in 1958, Larijani rose through Iran’s political ranks as part of a powerful religious family deeply embedded in the Islamic Republic’s leadership. His early career included service in the Revolutionary Guards, placing him close to Iran’s security establishment.
Larijani later led Iran’s state broadcasting organization for a decade, solidifying his influence within official circles. In 2005, he was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, becoming Iran’s top nuclear negotiator.
Known for his firm stance, Larijani opposed Western-backed proposals requiring Tehran to limit its nuclear program, arguing such concessions outweighed potential benefits.
Though he lost the 2005 presidential race to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Larijani remained influential. In 2008, he became speaker of parliament, a role he held for 12 years, gaining a reputation as a pragmatic conservative.
His later presidential bids in 2021 and 2024 were blocked by Iran’s vetting authorities, signaling tightening political space. Still, he served as an adviser to Khamenei and a member of the Expediency Council.
Larijani’s death marks the end of a decades-long career at the heart of Iran’s power structure.
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