Prominent Iranian Politician Ali Larijani Killed in Airstrike
Ali Larijani's Legacy and Death
Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian politician often referred to as part of the influential 'Kennedys of Iran' due to his powerful family connections, was a significant figure in the Islamic Republic. He played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s security and nuclear strategies. According to reports from Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Larijani, aged 67, lost his life in a US-Israeli airstrike while visiting his daughter in a suburb of Tehran. Israel's Defence Minister confirmed his death as a result of an Israeli operation.
Born on June 3, 1958, in Najaf, Iraq, Larijani hailed from a prominent clerical family in Iran’s Amol region. His family gained considerable influence following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with Time magazine once likening them to the 'Kennedys of Iran' due to their extensive reach in political and religious spheres. His father, Mirza Hashem Amoli, was a well-respected religious figure, and his brothers held significant roles within Iran’s judiciary and advisory councils associated with the supreme leader. Larijani's connections to the revolutionary elite were further solidified through his marriage to Farideh Motahari, the daughter of a close ally of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Despite his strong religious roots, Larijani also possessed a secular academic background. He obtained a degree in mathematics and computer science from Sharif University of Technology and later earned a doctorate in Western philosophy from the University of Tehran, focusing on the works of Immanuel Kant. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, where he advanced as a staff officer, establishing close ties with Iran’s security apparatus.
Larijani held several prominent positions throughout his career, including serving as the culture minister and leading Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, where he significantly influenced the country’s ideological narratives. He was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and acted as Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2007, defending the nation’s nuclear program and asserting its necessity. His diplomatic efforts included maintaining relationships with global powers like Russia and China, which were pivotal in shaping Iran’s foreign policy.
Elected to parliament in 2008, Larijani served as speaker for three consecutive terms until 2020, becoming a key player in domestic politics. He was instrumental in garnering parliamentary support for the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. Known as a pragmatic conservative, he occasionally favored diplomatic solutions while remaining steadfast in his commitment to Iran’s theocratic governance and the supreme leader's authority. In recent years, he returned to the security establishment, being reappointed as head of the Supreme National Security Council in 2025, where his positions appeared to become more rigid, particularly regarding Iran’s engagement with international nuclear oversight bodies. He was also implicated in the government's response to mass protests, leading to US sanctions due to his alleged involvement in the repression, which rights organizations reported resulted in thousands of deaths.