Seyit Kurt
18 March 2026•Update: 18 March 2026
- Most recently, he served as secretary of Supreme National Security Council following his reappointment in 2025
ISTANBUL
Ali Larijani, killed in an Israeli attack, was a prominent figure in Iranian politics and held a range of senior positions over the past four decades spanning state media, security institutions, and parliament.
Born on June 3, 1957, in Najaf, Iraq, Larijani completed his undergraduate studies in computer science at the Sharif University of Technology and obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy from the University of Tehran.
He began his career in 1981 as head of the Central News Unit and joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in 1982. Between 1982 and 1983, he served as deputy minister for parliamentary affairs at the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry, and briefly held deputy ministerial roles for legal and parliamentary affairs at the Post, Telegraph and Telephone Ministry.
From 1986 to 1989, Larijani served as deputy minister responsible for legal and parliamentary affairs at the Revolutionary Guards Ministry, before becoming deputy chief of staff of the Revolutionary Guards between 1989 and 1992.
Roles in media, nuclear file, legislative leadership
In the 1990s, he shifted toward cultural and media roles, serving as head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state media corporation, for nearly a decade.
He later moved into the security and strategic sphere, serving as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, where he oversaw the country’s nuclear file and participated in related negotiations.
Elected to parliament as a representative from Qom, Larijani served three consecutive terms as speaker of parliament from 2008 to 2020. In 2025, he was reappointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
Active in political and electoral processes, Larijani was generally associated with Iran’s conservative (principlist) camp, though recent commentary suggested he adopted a more moderate tone in recent years. He was also known for his academic work in philosophy.
