Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has promised a severe and “unforgettable lesson” to the United States and Israel after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The 67-year-old official, once viewed as a pragmatic diplomat, warned that “Zionist criminals” and “shameless Americans” would be made to regret their actions.
The escalation follows US-Israeli air strikes on 28 February, which killed both the Supreme Leader and Mohammad Pakpour, a high-ranking commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a televised address and via social media, Larijani asserted that the “brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran” would retaliate against “hellish international oppressors,” vowing that “we will burn their hearts”.
As tensions peak, the IRGC has declared the vital Strait of Hormuz “closed”. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities reported minor damage at the US Embassy in Riyadh following two drone strikes.
A political heavyweight at the helm
Larijani is now a central figure in Tehran’s response to its most severe crisis since 1979. He is expected to play a critical role alongside the three-man transitional council currently managing state affairs.
Coming from an extremely influential dynasty often referred to as the “Kennedys of Iran,” Larijani’s brothers have held prominent positions in the judiciary and the Assembly of Experts.
Unlike many in the clerical establishment, he possesses a secular academic background, holding a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and a doctorate in Western philosophy—with a thesis on Immanuel Kant—from the University of Tehran. His extensive career includes serving as the head of state broadcaster IRIB, Minister of Culture, and a three-term speaker of the Parliament (Majlis).
The end of diplomacy
While Larijani was a proponent of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and participated in indirect negotiations with the US as recently as February, his stance has since hardened significantly.
Prior to the air strikes, he had described negotiation as a “rational path,” but on Monday, he explicitly rejected reports of renewed dialogue, stating that Iran would “not negotiate” with Washington.
This follows his October 2025 decision to cancel a cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during which he dismissed the agency’s reports as “no longer effective”. Larijani has clarified that while Iran does not intend to attack regional neighbours, it will target any bases utilised by the United States. He concluded by assuring the public that the succession process is being handled according to the Constitution, promising a counter-strike with “a force that they have never experienced before”.
