A comeback after 20 years
Will Larijani shape future of national security?
By Goltab Darabi
Political affairs analyst
In a critical juncture for Iran—when the country is in dire need of rational governance, policy experience, and a delicate balance between “resistance” and “engagement”—the appointment of Ali Larijani as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) could be seen as a direct response to such needs. Larijani’s long résumé spans from academic and philosophical work to running Iran’s national broadcaster, serving in top positions in the SNSC, and presiding over the Parliament. His career blends executive experience with intellectual depth.
His new appointment comes at a time when Iran and Israel remain under a fragile cease-fire. Just weeks after a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin—widely interpreted as Larijani’s return to high-level policymaking—Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian officially named the 67-year-old veteran politician to lead the country’s top security body. The move signals an intent to align the SNSC more closely with the presidency to more effectively advance key national security files.
Larijani served as head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) from 1993 to 2004. During that 11-year tenure, he played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s official media discourse and expanding the organization’s reach. That period overlapped with a turbulent phase in Iranian politics—from the handover of power from president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani to his successor Mohammad Khatami in 1997, through the Reformist Movement, to major regional events like the Afghan civil war and ongoing Middle East crises.
Almost 20 years ago, Larijani was also a presidential hopeful. Once considered the frontrunner for the Conservative bloc, his candidacy was sidelined by a crowded right-wing camp, leading to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s eventual win. He made two more attempts to run for president in 2021 and 2024, but on both occasions, his candidacy was disqualified—reportedly on grounds such as not being sufficiently “efficient and prudent”—even before official campaigning began.
Back in 2005, it was Ahmadinejad who appointed Larijani as secretary of the SNSC, when the latter—somewhat disparagingly— made a famous statement, saying “We trade a precious pearl for a lollipop,” as a jab at Hassan Rouhani’s nuclear diplomacy who was the SNSC’s secretary handling Iran’s nuclear file. The new government's policy led to Iran's nuclear case being brought before the UN Security Council. Charged with managing Iran’s nuclear portfolio, Larijani sought to bridge divides between the country’s political factions and push forward a more cohesive national security strategy. In public statements and press interviews, he repeatedly stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary tensions and embracing logic and dialogue in resolving security challenges.
During talks with Europe—especially with Javier Solana, the then-EU foreign policy chief—Larijani came close to securing an 11-point agreement. But Ahmadinejad publicly rejected the framework, prompting Larijani’s resignation. What followed was a steep escalation in tensions and sanctions until the end of Ahmadinejad’s term.
Page 8