Regional

Ali Larijani, Iran's ultimate backroom powerbroker, dies at 67

Abubakar Ibrahim•16h ago•771 words · 4 min read

Summary

Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian politician and close advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died at the age of 67, according to Iranian media reports on Tuesday. Israel Katz, Israel’s Defence Minister, claimed Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike. Larijani served as a Revolutionary Guards commander during the Iran-Iraq war and later headed Iran’s national broadcaster.

Larijani held significant responsibilities within Iran, including involvement in critical nuclear negotiations with the West, managing regional ties, and suppressing internal unrest. Despite advocating a more cautious approach than other hardline figures, he allegedly played a central role in the bloody crushing of mass protests in January, leading to sanctions imposed by Washington last month. Following the U.S.-Israeli strikes that began on February 28, Larijani accused Iran’s attackers of seeking to disintegrate and plunder the country and issued warnings against protesters.

Born in 1958 in Najaf, Iraq, Larijani moved to Iran as a child and later earned a PhD in philosophy. At 20 years old, he witnessed the Islamic Revolution overthrow the shah and install Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the supreme leader. During the Iran-Iraq war, he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and rose to become a staff officer focused on organizational duties.

Quick Summary

Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian politician and close adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died - he was a powerful figure in the Islamic Republic. His death raises questions about the future of Iran's leadership and regional influence.

#Ali Larijani #Iran #Khamenei #politics #Middle East

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