Who Was Ali Larijani? Here's Why the Death of Iran's Security Chief Is a Major Loss Amid War

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, was confirmed to be killed by an Israeli air strike on Tuesday, 17 March.

Larijani was not a military commander, but he was the mind behind Iran's strategic decision — he is a central figure in the ongoing war. With this, his death is a major loss for the country, as Israel was able to remove one of Iran's most experienced and influential policymakers at a critical moment.

Who Was Ali Larijani?

Born in 1958 in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, Ali Ardashir Larijani was the quintessential 'ultimate insider' of the Islamic Republic. The son of a Grand Ayatollah and son-in-law to the revolutionary theorist Morteza Motahhari, Larijani sat at the precise intersection of Iran's clerical, military, and political dynasties.

While his early career was forged in the IRGC during the Iran–Iraq War, he was far from a conventional soldier. A scholar by training, he held a PhD in Western philosophy and was a noted expert on the works of Immanuel Kant—an intellectual background that informed his reputation as a 'pragmatic conservative' capable of navigating complex international diplomacy.

As the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Larijani was the man in charge of the regime's most critical decisions on war, diplomacy, and national security. Despite his notoriously hardline stance against the West, he was often described within Iran as a technocrat who combined ideological loyalty with a calculated, strategic approach.

He favoured cold results over empty rhetoric, a trait that made him an indispensable envoy—most notably in his role securing Iran's long-term co-operation agreement with China.

Though he remained deeply sceptical of engagement with Western powers, his ability to bridge the gap between Iran's military apparatus and the global stage made him the de facto administrator of the state following the death of the Supreme Leader in February 2026.

Ali Larijani Was Killed by an Israeli Air Strike

Larijani was killed on 17 March alongside his son, Morteza, by an Israeli air strike. His death marks the end of his four-decade career in the regime.

As reported by the BBC, Larijani has always been the prime target of Israel to decapitate the Iranian leadership and on Tuesday, they successfully did it.

Aside from this, he also became a target because of his ability to operate across multiple layers of politics, wielding significant personal influence not only within Iran but also with foreign powers such as China and Russia.

However, it's not just Larijani, several senior Iranian officials and commanders have also been killed within a matter of weeks — a move that suggests Israel is exerting effort to weaken Iran by killing its leaders during the war.

Why His Death Is a Major Loss Amid the War

According to The Guardian, Larijani's death is 'likely the biggest loss for Iran's government.' The former Iranian security chief's assassination is said to be a devastating blow for the country amid the war, as they were able to remove that country's most experienced and influential policymaker during this critical time.

Following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Larijani adopted a defiant tone, indicating that Iran was ready for a prolonged conflict and his voice carried weight across the system, especially in managing Iran's confrontation with the US and Israel.

Before he was killed, Larijani was in charge of managing three major crises, including the war itself. He said that the regime should get ready for a long fight and widen the conflict across the region and beyond, including possibly shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.

Second, he was in charge of a wave of domestic unrest that began with economic grievances but has turned into widespread protests calling for the fall of the regime, resulting in a harsh response, leaving thousands of protesters dead.

He is also in charge of Iran's nuclear programme. His death has left unresolved issues, and his yet-to-be-identified successor might face an extremely fragile situation as well as pressure.