DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� Ali Larijani, a top Iranian security official and a conservative force within Iran鈥檚 theocracy, was , Iranian authorities confirmed Tuesday. He was 67.
Larijani was widely believed to be running the country following the killing of its supreme leader in U.S. and Israeli strikes late last month that sparked . Israel said earlier Tuesday that it had killed Larijani, but it was several hours before Iran confirmed his death.
He had been appointed to advise on strategy in nuclear talks with the Trump administration and just two weeks before the war began. Like other top Iranian leaders, Larijani was under heavy U.S. sanctions and implicated in the in January.
He was ineligible to become supreme leader after Khamenei’s death because he is not a Shiite cleric. But he was widely expected to serve as a top adviser, and many believed he was running the country as U.S. and Israeli strikes have driven Iran鈥檚 leadership underground. The Supreme National Security Council said his son Morteza Larijani was also killed.
A week ago, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran 鈥淭WENTY TIMES HARDER鈥� if Tehran stopped oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, Larijani responded on X.
鈥淭he sacrificial nation of Iran doesn鈥檛 fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn鈥檛 eliminate Iran,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淏e careful not to get eliminated yourself.鈥�
Larijani was born into one of Iran鈥檚 most famous political families, which many media outlets have compared to the Kennedys in the United States. One brother, Sadeq, served as the head of Iran鈥檚 judiciary, while another, Mohammad Javad, was a senior diplomat who closely advised the late Khamenei on foreign affairs.
Over the years, Larijani issued increasingly hard-line threats. In the 1990s, he served as Iran鈥檚 culture minister, tightening censorship. He served as parliament speaker from 2008 to 2020, and most recently as head of the Supreme National Security Council.
He wrote at least six philosophy books, including three exploring the works of German philosopher Immanuel Kant.
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