Who was Ali Larijani, one of the most powerful men in Iran, killed by Israel in bombing

Israel says it killed head of Iran’s Security Council Iran confirmed, late this Tuesday afternoon (17), the death of Ali Larijani, head of the country’s Supreme Security Council and one of the most important men in the Iranian regime, in an attack by Israel. Earlier, the Israeli newspaper “Times of Israel” said that Larijani had been the target of a bombing carried out by Israel in Tehran last night (16). READ ALSO: Israel says it killed head of Iran’s Security Council in bombing ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp Ali Larijani was one of the most influential names in Iranian politics, built a career as a politician and intellectual, with a degree in philosophy. He took over the Supreme National Security Council in 2025, coordinating defense strategies and nuclear policy, being considered the main negotiator. Larijani was appointed head of Iran’s Security Council by President Masoud Pezeshkian and was close to Ali Khamenei, who died on the first day of joint attacks between the United States and Israel. According to reports, the two met just hours before Khamenei’s death. Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council. Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters He was seen as a moderate, despite being one of the Iranian regime’s most prominent figures in repudiating the US and Israel during the war. Larijani began his public career in the 1980s, when he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, a central force of the Iranian regime. Over the following decades, he accumulated relevant roles, such as Minister of Culture and director of the state broadcaster IRIB. He also played a prominent role in the Iranian Legislature. Between 2008 and 2020, he presided over the country’s Parliament, consolidating himself as a major figure in the political system. In 2007, he left his post as nuclear negotiator after differences with then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Despite this, he remained influential in strategic discussions about the Iranian nuclear program. In recent years, Larijani has come to be seen as a pragmatic conservative, open to international negotiations. He gained even more prominence after changes at the top of Iranian power, especially with the death of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, according to recent reports. As head of the Security Council, he oversaw sensitive issues such as nuclear policy and the response to external attacks. Larijani’s name had also been mentioned as a possible interlocutor in negotiations with the West. Ali Larijani came from one of the most influential families in Iran. Son of Ayatollah Mirza Hashem Amoli, he grew up in an environment linked to the Shiite clergy. The family group is often compared to the “Kennedys of Iran” due to their constant presence in positions of power. He also had direct ties to the ideological elite of the Islamic Revolution. Larijani was married to the daughter of Morteza Motahari, considered one of the main thinkers of the movement led by Ayatollah Khomeini. This connection reinforced his proximity to the theocratic core of the regime. Even with a profile considered pragmatic in international negotiations, Larijani adopted tough positions internally. He supported the repression of protests and intensified his speech against Western countries after recent attacks. Ali Larijani REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

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