Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed veteran politician Ali Larijani as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the country’s highest security body. The move marks Larijani’s return to a position he previously held from 2005 to 2007, replacing General Ali-Akbar Ahmadian.
This leadership change follows a 12-day military conflict in June between Iran and a combined Israeli – US offensive, during which key Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure was targeted.
In response, the Iranian government has initiated a broad security reshuffle, including the formation of a new Defense Council to oversee national defense policy. President Pezeshkian will head this newly established body.
Ali Larijani, Iran’s newest national security adviser, arrived in Lebanon and was received by Hezbollah supporters with royal honors, greeted with chants of “At your command, Nasrallah.” Hezbollah is counting on Iran in its internal struggle within the Lebanese arena. pic.twitter.com/yQU14wBl4W
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Larijani, a seasoned conservative with pragmatic leanings, has held several senior posts over the past three decades. He served as speaker of parliament from 2008 to 2020 and was appointed as an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 2020. Larijani also played a central role in nuclear negotiations in the mid-2000s and supported the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
His reappointment is seen as a strategic shift aimed at restoring stability and coherence in Iran’s security structure, especially amid ongoing tensions with Western powers. The SNSC is tasked with shaping Iran’s defense and security strategy, although its decisions must be approved by the Supreme Leader.
Larijani’s return may signal a move toward more measured policymaking, potentially balancing hardline influence within Iran’s power structure.
