After the death of the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, in a joint air attack between the United States and Israel, a scenario of unprecedented power vacuum opens. Among the names, Ali Larijani stands out, who has become one of the most mentioned candidates in the struggle for power in Iran.
He recently published a message through the social network ‘X’ reporting that Iran, unlike the United States, has been preparing for a long war for years.
Who is Ali Larijani?
A political veteran and current head of the country’s main security body, his profile combines experience in defense, diplomacy and internal politics. Ali Larijani is one of Iran’s most experienced politicians and belongs to one of the country’s most influential families. For decades he has held key positions in the State apparatus and in the institutions of the regime that emerged after the Islamic revolution of 1979. Since 2025, Larijani has held the position of secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, which places him at the center of decision-making on defense, regional strategy and Iran’s nuclear policy.
Among his most notable positions are:
- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
- President of the Iranian Parliament between 2008 and 2020.
- Chief negotiator in talks on the Iranian nuclear program.
His career has allowed him to maintain close ties with the most powerful sectors of the political system, from religious leaders to the Revolutionary Guard. For this reason, many analysts consider him a possible “strong man” of the political transition in Iran. However, there is an obstacle that could limit his advantage: Larijani is not a cleric, and the position of supreme leader usually falls to a senior Shiite religious according to the political principle of “velayat-e faqih”, which grants political power to an Islamic jurist.
What is more likely is that Larijani will occupy a position behind power or even in a consensus option if the internal balance of the regime changes.
