Who is Ali Larijani? Iran’s ‘strongman’ safety chief who threatened Trump with ‘elimination’ | EUROtoday

Iran has confirmed the demise of high safety chief Ali Larijani on Tuesday, state media reported.

Larijani turns into essentially the most senior Iranian determine to be killed by Israel for the reason that assassination of supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the primary day of the warfare.

Tehran had earlier denied experiences that Larijani was useless and a handwritten letter devoted to Iranian troops was launched after Israel claimed he had been killed in an IDF strike.

A tribute to Larijani was posted on his social media account on X, it mentioned: “Indeed, a servant of Allah has joined his Lord as a martyr.”

Israel mentioned it had killed Larijani in in a single day strikes which focused “a hideout apartment” in Tehran.

Larijani, who led Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had been regarded by consultants as amongst these most certainly to step into the ability vacuum left by the demise of Khamenei.

Despite Khamenei’s son Mojtaba being named supreme chief in his stead, Larijani remained a pivotal determine and was regarded by many observers because the nation’s de facto chief.

Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz mentioned one other senior determine, the Basij paramilitary drive commander Gholamreza Soleimani, had additionally been killed in a separate strike.

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation programme, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,” Mr Katz mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday morning.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian state media confirmed Soleimani’s demise on Tuesday.

The handwritten observe posted on Larijani’s X (Twitter) account, commemorated members of the Iranian navy killed in US assaults on the Iris Dena off the coast of Sri Lank, whose funerals have been anticipated to be held on Tuesday.

In the week earlier than his demise, he had posted a thinly veiled risk to Trump after the American chief vowed to rain down “death, fire and fury” on the Islamic Republic.

“The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats,” Larijani wrote in a defiant put up on X on 10 March in response.

“Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”

Larijani’s aggressive method had been a key a part of the rhetoric within the opening days of the warfare, following the 28 February strike on Tehran which killed Khamenei.

“We will not negotiate with the United States,” he mentioned within the aftermath of the primary US-Israeli strikes, including that President Trump held “delusional fantasies” in regards to the unfolding warfare.

Larijani was final seen in public on Friday, attending the Al‑Quds Day rally in Tehran alongside president Masoud Pezeshkian in a present of assist for Palestinians dwelling within the Iranian capital.

Who is Ali Larijani?

Born within the metropolis of Najaf in 1958, Larijani started his profession in authorities as deputy minister of labour and social affairs. In 1994, he was appointed head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the place he remained for a decade.

In 2005, Larijani was appointed as Supreme National Security Council secretary, placing him in command of Iran’s nuclear negotiations. He had lately been overseeing Tehran’s efforts to achieve a nuclear cope with the US.

Larijani had not been named amongst Iran’s new three-man council following the assassination of Khamenei. Nonetheless energy in Iran is believed to stay concentrated inside the Security Council, which had reportedly already sidelined Khamenei for the reason that disastrous 12-day warfare with Israel final June.

Larijani’s energy had additionally eclipsed that of the official president, Pezeshkian, as he had not solely taken the lead within the worldwide area in latest months, but in addition domestically. He was among the many earliest and loudest voices in Iran’s management calling for lethal violence to crush political demonstrations that erupted on the finish of final 12 months as Iran’s financial disaster deepened.

The unrest, the most important rebellion for the reason that 1979 Islamic Revolution, was met with a brutal crackdown. As many as 30,000 individuals are believed to have been killed by the regime this 12 months, based on Iran International.

How highly effective is Larijani?

Larijani’s grip on energy got here even though he had not been among the many clerics Khamenei had recognized as potential successors. The supreme chief had left a shortlist of three spiritual figures, with the function formally reserved for a cleric.

However he had been regarded by consultants not simply as a believable management contender for the nation, however one who may steer Iran towards an much more militarised mannequin of governance.

While Donald Trump has mentioned he needs to see regime change in Iran, the interim management has vowed vengeance in opposition to the US and Israel.

Larijani had accused the US and Israel of attempting to plunder and disintegrate Iran, and had warned “secessionist groups” of a harsh response in the event that they tried any motion. In a put up on X, Larijani claimed President Trump had plunged the Middle East into chaos.

“With his delusional actions, he has transformed his self-made slogan of ‘America First’ into ‘Israel First’ and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s quest for power,” Larijani wrote. “He once again imposes the cost of his cult of personality on American soldiers and families. Today, the Iranian nation is defending itself… the Iranian armed forces did not initiate the invasion.”