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Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Who Is Ali Larijani? Iran's New Security Czar
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ali Larijani has surged back into Iran's corridors of power as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, taking a decisive role in steering the country's regional and defense strategy. A senior advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Larijani has moved quickly in his new role, traveling to Moscow, Baghdad and Beirut to reinforce alliances, manage Tehran-aligned proxies, and signal Iran's influence amid rising tensions with the United States and neighboring countries. Newsweek has reached out to Iran's Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters Larijani's re-emergence signals Tehran's reliance on experienced, trusted figures to steer its regional strategy. His influence could consolidate Iran's network of proxies and allies, reinforce its positions in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, and affect how Iran navigates its relations with Washington and other regional powers. Ali Larijani listens to a question during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on December 1, 2019. Ali Larijani listens to a question during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on December 1, 2019. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo What To Know Larijani's role as Iran's top security official and as a senior adviser to the country's supreme leader places him at the core of Tehran's strategic and defense operations. Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at think tank Chatham House, told Newsweek: "Ali Larijani's appointment as Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security and designation as the country's representative marks the return of a pragmatic conservative close to the leadership to a critical post just weeks after the war with Israel." Previous Positions Before his latest appointment, Larijani held influential but less central roles in security policymaking. A founding member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and former nuclear negotiator, he headed state media and served as Speaker of Parliament from 2008 to 2020 when he decided to step down. These roles emphasized legislative, diplomatic and advisory work, making his current position a clear return to the heart of Iran's defense and regional strategy. Ali Larijani, right, head of Iran's National Security Council, gestures as Hezbollah supporters gather to welcome him outside Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 13, 2025. Ali Larijani, right, head of Iran's National Security Council, gestures as Hezbollah supporters gather to welcome him outside Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 13, 2025. AP Photo/Bilal Hussein A tour of influence Since taking on his new role, Larijani has traveled to Moscow, Baghdad, and Beirut. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in late July saw high-level discussions on regional security and cooperation. In Baghdad, he met with Iraqi leaders, laid a wreath at the site of the killing of Qassem Soleimani—the famed IRGC general assassinated in a U.S. drone strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump in January 2020—and discussed Tehran-aligned proxies. Larijani visited Beirut on Wednesday, meeting with the Lebanese president and parliament speaker amid a heated domestic debate over Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed political and militant group. The Lebanese army is drafting legislation to bring all armed groups under state control, but Hezbollah has warned it will resist any attempts to disarm until Israel withdraws from contested areas. Ali Larijani, left, meets with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 13, 2025. Ali Larijani, left, meets with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 13, 2025. Bilal Hussein/AP Photo What People Are Saying Dr. Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House: "His selection signals a shift toward a more unifying, experienced regime insider capable of managing both domestic political tensions and sensitive regional diplomacy. Larijani's track record as parliament speaker and nuclear negotiator suggests Tehran may seek a more calibrated security and foreign policy approach. His experience positions him to navigate complex regional dynamics while maintaining cohesion within Iran's political structures." What Happens Next Larijani's return to high-level diplomacy and security management marks a new chapter for Iran's strategic operations. As the country continues to engage with regional allies and respond to U.S. policies, his role in coordinating defense, diplomacy, and domestic stability will be closely watched.
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iraq toughens stance against paramilitary force after Baghdad clash - Region
The Iraqi government toughened its stance on Saturday towards the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah Brigades, announcing that some members would face trial over a recent deadly clash while others were stripped of their commands. The decision follows an attack on a government office in south Baghdad late last month that killed three people, including a policeman, and which the authorities blamed on the group. Like other armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the jihadist Islamic State group (IS), the Hezbollah Brigades were integrated into the regular security forces as part of the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force. However, the faction has developed a reputation for sometimes acting on its own. Iraq's Joint Operations Command previously said that more than a dozen suspects were detained over the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office, which was prompted by the sacking of the director. Saturday's government statement said the suspects were "fighters belonging to Hezbollah Brigades and affiliated to Regiments 45 and 46 of the Hashed al-Shaabi". It charged that the attack on the ministry's office had been led by the former director. "In addition to being implicated in several cases of corruption", the suspected ringleader stood accused of "falsifying official documents, certificates and contracts so that farmland could be confiscated from its legitimate owners", the statement said. The government said it regretted "command and control failings within the Hashed al-Shaabi" and condemned the "presence of armed factions which do not respect military rules and procedures". The authorities announced the "dismissal of the commanders of Regiments 45 and 46" and the prosecution of "everybody implicated" in the case. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said 25 people faced trial -- the Hezbollah Brigades fighters and the former head of the ministry office. The group says many of those detained had nothing to do with last month's clash. The case comes amid deep divisions in Iraq over a proposed law that would further formalise the role -- and perhaps, the autonomy -- of the Hashed al-Shaabi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation "would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty". Formed in 2014 when Iraqis were urged to take up arms against IS, the Hashed now counts more than 200,000 fighters and employees, and wields major military and political clout. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Shafaq News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq pushes PMF Law forward despite US warnings of Iranian influence
Shafaq News As the Iraqi Parliament advances legislation to formalize the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as an independent security institution, tensions with the United States are escalating. Washington warns the bill could entrench Iranian influence and undermine Iraqi sovereignty, while Iraqi officials insist the move is a long-overdue recognition of a key component of the national defense structure. The proposed law, known informally as the amended PMF Authority Law, is being debated amid a wider struggle over Iraq's security architecture and regional alignments. US officials view the legislation as a potential shift in the balance of power within Iraq's armed forces, one that may prioritize loyalty to Tehran-aligned factions over the Iraqi state. 'Legislating this type of law will entrench Iranian influence and terrorist armed groups that undermine Iraq's sovereignty,' US Secretary of State Marc Rubio reportedly told Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a phone call last Wednesday, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. In response, al-Sudani defended the legislation, describing it as part of a broader security reform initiative passed by parliament. He emphasized that the PMF remains under the authority of the commander-in-chief and operates as an official security formation alongside Iraq's military and intelligence institutions. What the New PMF Law Proposes The legislation—now in its second reading in parliament—would repeal the 2016 law and reconstitute the PMF as a permanent, autonomous military body. Key provisions include: -Granting the PMF financial and administrative independence. -Formalizing it alongside institutions like the National Intelligence and National Security Services. -Authorizing new formations under the PMF umbrella. -Giving the PMF commission chief broad authority to implement restructuring and development. According to the Prime Minister's office, the draft law aims to improve institutional cohesion and extend benefits to families of fallen fighters. Iraqi Lawmakers Defend the PMF Iraqi lawmakers have pushed back against US objections, asserting that the PMF is a state-aligned institution. 'The Popular Mobilization Forces are an Iraqi security institution that receives salaries from the government and takes orders from the Commander-in-Chief, just like other security agencies,' said Ali Ni'ma al-Bandawi, member of the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, in comments to Shafaq News. Al-Bandawi emphasized the PMF's origin following Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's 2014 fatwa to defend the country against ISIS, calling it a 'sacred ideological force.' He said the law would enhance organizational structure and improve fighters' welfare, not deepen foreign ties. 'American and other foreign interference in drafting laws for the Iraqi Council of Representatives is unacceptable.' Al-Bandawi also criticized the withdrawal of some parliamentary blocs during the July 16 session, calling it 'a misguided step,' and reiterated that the Coordination Framework and State Administration Coalition hold enough votes to pass the law without consensus but prefer to preserve political partnership. Divisions Inside Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al- Mashhadani, in a recent televised interview, revealed that the US had sent messages to Iraqi political leaders expressing support for integrating the PMF—not expanding its autonomy. He warned that the draft law lacked clarity regarding PMF roles and authorities, making it difficult to implement effectively. This prompted backlash from MPs, who accused him of undermining national consensus and began collecting signatures to demand his removal. The law passed its second reading during the July 16 parliamentary session, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, with 172 out of 329 lawmakers in attendance. Some Kurdish and Sunni MPs staged a walkout in protest. Expert Warnings of Strategic Fallout Western analysts view the legislation as a turning point. 'The law appears to institutionalize a military structure that is not fully loyal to the Iraqi government,' said Thomas Warrick, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former US official at the Department of Homeland Security. 'The United States would prefer to see PMF members integrated into regular army units rather than maintaining autonomous formations.' Warrick acknowledged that some of the draft law's provisions are administrative in nature, but argued that others 'cause deep concern,' particularly regarding command chains and foreign influence. He emphasized that the US seeks a unified national military under elected constitutional leaders and remains wary of past cases where PMF leadership showed stronger loyalty to foreign actors than to Iraq's government. Ahmed Al-Yasiri, head of the Arab-Australian Center for Strategic Studies, echoed those concerns in remarks to Shafaq News, describing the PMF as a 'political institution' tied to Iranian regional strategy. He cited the US strike on PMF leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 as a reflection of Washington's view that the PMF threatened the US-designed post-2003 Iraqi security order. 'This law may grant legal cover to groups managed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq,' Al-Yasiri said, warning that passing the bill could severely strain US–Iraq relations and jeopardize American investment and security cooperation, especially in northern regions like Duhok and Erbil, which have seen recent drone attacks blamed on Iran-linked armed forces. He added that the Al-Sudani government may be seeking to end the current legislative term with a 'containment measure' aimed at stabilizing internal dynamics—but risks alienating international partners. Alternative Perspective: A Shield of Sovereignty Sabah al-Akili, a Baghdad-based political commentator, described US opposition as 'a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty,' accusing Washington of attempting to dismantle regional power structures that challenge Israeli and American interests. 'Any politician who abstains from supporting the PMF law is aligning with foreign agendas,' he told Shafaq News, arguing that neutralizing the PMF would expose Iraq to destabilization and regional fragmentation. He pointed to developments in Syria's Suwayda region and Lebanon as part of what he described as a wider campaign to redraw Middle Eastern borders through proxy manipulation and disarmament efforts targeting anti-Western forces. What Comes Next? If passed in its current form, the PMF law would deepen the divide between Iraq's Shiite-dominated political forces and US regional interests. It could trigger renewed scrutiny of US aid programs and military cooperation, especially if American bases or partners in Iraq become targets of groups shielded by the new legal framework. With Kurdistan Region factions already expressing concern, and Sunni parties signaling defection from the legislative process, the law could also reawaken sectarian and federalist tensions. At the same time, proponents argue that formalizing the PMF is essential for preserving national unity—and that sidelining it could invite greater chaos and foreign intervention.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Analysis-Israeli air power reigns over Iran, but needs US for deeper impact
By Maayan Lubell, Lili Bayer, Ece Toksabay and Suleiman Al-Khalidi JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's command of Iranian air space leaves few obstacles in the way of its expanding bombardment, though it will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites without the U.S. joining the attack, experts say. While Iran has responded with deadly missile strikes on Israeli cities, Israel has shown its military and intelligence pre-eminence as its warplanes have crisscrossed the Middle East, hitting Iranian nuclear installations, missile stockpiles, scientists, and generals - among other targets. On Monday, several Israeli officials declared the establishment of air superiority over Iran. The military likened its control of Iranian skies to its command of the air space over other arenas of conflict with Iran-aligned enemies, such as over Gaza and Lebanon - where Israel continues to bomb at will. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel's control of Iranian air space was "a game-changer". National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said pilots could operate "against countless more targets" over Tehran, thanks to the destruction of "dozens and dozens" of air defence batteries. But even as Israeli officials laud the damage done so far, some publicly acknowledge Israel won't be able to completely knock out Iran's nuclear program - unless the U.S. joins the campaign with strategic bombers that can drop ordnance with the potential to penetrate sites buried deep underground. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said Israel had achieved "quite a lot of operational and tactical successes ... But translating that into a strategic success will require more than what air power can deliver". Krieg said even the heaviest U.S. bunker-busting bombs might struggle to penetrate Iran's deepest sites - in the event President Donald Trump decides to join the attack - suggesting special, commando-style forces might be needed on the ground. Nevertheless, "Israel can act with impunity now, and they can do that in the way they did in it in Lebanon". Israel launched its campaign on Friday, saying Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb - something Iran has always denied seeking from its uranium enrichment program. While the Iranian military says it has downed Israeli warplanes, Israel denies this and says no crews or planes have been harmed during their missions to Iran, a return journey of some 3,000 km (2,000 miles) or more. A senior Western defence source said Israeli warplanes have been refuelling over Syria - a bastion of Iranian influence until Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. Israel is now operating over Syria with "near-total freedom", the source said. ECHOES OF LEBANON Israel's assault bears echoes of last year's devastating offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, during which Israel wiped out the Tehran-aligned group's top command - including its leader Hassan Nasrallah - within the first days. Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday that President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Netanyahu on Monday did not rule out targeting Khamenei, saying doing so would end the conflict. Further echoing its 2024 campaign in Lebanon, the Israeli military on Monday issued an evacuation warning for a specific area of Tehran, saying in a post on X that it planned to target the "Iranian regime's military infrastructure" in the capital. A regional intelligence source said Israel had built a "truly surprising" network of agents in Tehran, likening the targeted killings of top officials to the blows directed at Hezbollah's leadership. The source said Israel's ability to "penetrate Tehran from the inside" had been astonishing. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the RUSI think-tank in London, said Iran has "few technical answers" to the combination of Israeli F-35 aircraft capable of waging electronic warfare against its anti-aircraft systems, supported by F-16s and F-15s carrying precision-guided ballistic missiles. Though Israel was long assessed to have the upper hand, the speed, scale and effectiveness of its strikes - particularly against top Iranian generals - caught many off guard, said Barin Kayaoglu, a Turkish defence analyst. Iran's military appeared to have been "sleeping at the wheel", he said. However, he cited challenges for Israel, saying its air force could find it difficult to maintain the current tempo of its operations because of the need to replenish ammunition stocks and maintain warplanes. WEAPONS SHIPPED In April, Israeli media reported an unusually large shipment of bombs arriving from the U.S. An unsourced report by public broadcaster Kan on April 17 said the delivery included hundreds of bombs, among them bunker busters. Iranian air defences were damaged by Israeli strikes during exchanges of fire last year, Israeli officials said then. As last week's attack began, Israel said Mossad commandos on the ground in Iran destroyed more of Iran's anti-aircraft systems. Despite Israeli air supremacy, Israeli officials have acknowledged that Iran's nuclear program cannot be disabled entirely by Israel's military, emphasising goals that fall short of its total destruction. A former senior Israeli security official told Reuters that while U.S. military support was needed to do damage to Iran's most deeply buried facility, the Fordow enrichment plant, Israel was not counting on Washington joining the attack. Israel has said it has not targeted Fordow - built beneath a mountain south of Tehran - to date, rather just the installations at Natanz and Isfahan. Either way, the former official said Israel had already done enough meaningful damage to Iran's nuclear program, declining to be named so he could speak freely about sensitive matters. If after the conflict ends Iran retained a residual uranium enrichment capability but not the people and facilities to do anything of concern with it, then this would be a major achievement, added the official. Trump has repeatedly said Iran could end the war by agreeing to tough restrictions on its enrichment program. Emily Harding from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said conventional wisdom held that Israel could not completely eliminate the deepest buried parts of Iran's nuclear program. "But Israel has strongly hinted that it has more capability than that conventional wisdom would suggest. For example, the ability to operate freely over the target allows for multiple sorties that could do a lot of damage," she said. (Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Crispian Balmer and Mark Heinrich)
Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israeli air power reigns over Iran, but needs US for deeper impact
Israeli air power reigns over Iran, but needs US for deeper impact JERUSALEM - Israel's command of Iranian air space leaves few obstacles in the way of its expanding bombardment, though it will struggle to deal a knock-out blow to deeply buried nuclear sites without the U.S. joining the attack, experts say. While Iran has responded with deadly missile strikes on Israeli cities, Israel has shown its military and intelligence pre-eminence as its warplanes have crisscrossed the Middle East, hitting Iranian nuclear installations, missile stockpiles, scientists, and generals - among other targets. On Monday, several Israeli officials declared the establishment of air superiority over Iran. The military likened its control of Iranian skies to its command of the air space over other arenas of conflict with Iran-aligned enemies, such as over Gaza and Lebanon - where Israel continues to bomb at will. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel's control of Iranian air space was "a game-changer". National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said pilots could operate "against countless more targets" over Tehran, thanks to the destruction of "dozens and dozens" of air defence batteries. But even as Israeli officials laud the damage done so far, some publicly acknowledge Israel won't be able to completely knock out Iran's nuclear program - unless the U.S. joins the campaign with strategic bombers that can drop ordnance with the potential to penetrate sites buried deep underground. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King's College London, said Israel had achieved "quite a lot of operational and tactical successes ... But translating that into a strategic success will require more than what air power can deliver". Krieg said even the heaviest U.S. bunker-busting bombs might struggle to penetrate Iran's deepest sites - in the event President Donald Trump decides to join the attack - suggesting special, commando-style forces might be needed on the ground. Nevertheless, "Israel can act with impunity now, and they can do that in the way they did in it in Lebanon". Israel launched its campaign on Friday, saying Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb - something Iran has always denied seeking from its uranium enrichment program. While the Iranian military says it has downed Israeli warplanes, Israel denies this and says no crews or planes have been harmed during their missions to Iran, a return journey of some 3,000 km (2,000 miles) or more. A senior Western defence source said Israeli warplanes have been refuelling over Syria - a bastion of Iranian influence until Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. Israel is now operating over Syria with "near-total freedom", the source said. ECHOES OF LEBANON Israel's assault bears echoes of last year's devastating offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, during which Israel wiped out the Tehran-aligned group's top command - including its leader Hassan Nasrallah - within the first days. Two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday that President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Netanyahu on Monday did not rule out targeting Khamenei, saying doing so would end the conflict. Further echoing its 2024 campaign in Lebanon, the Israeli military on Monday issued an evacuation warning for a specific area of Tehran, saying in a post on X that it planned to target the "Iranian regime's military infrastructure" in the capital. A regional intelligence source said Israel had built a "truly surprising" network of agents in Tehran, likening the targeted killings of top officials to the blows directed at Hezbollah's leadership. The source said Israel's ability to "penetrate Tehran from the inside" had been astonishing. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the RUSI think-tank in London, said Iran has "few technical answers" to the combination of Israeli F-35 aircraft capable of waging electronic warfare against its anti-aircraft systems, supported by F-16s and F-15s carrying precision-guided ballistic missiles. Though Israel was long assessed to have the upper hand, the speed, scale and effectiveness of its strikes - particularly against top Iranian generals - caught many off guard, said Barin Kayaoglu, a Turkish defence analyst. Iran's military appeared to have been "sleeping at the wheel", he said. However, he cited challenges for Israel, saying its air force could find it difficult to maintain the current tempo of its operations because of the need to replenish ammunition stocks and maintain warplanes. WEAPONS SHIPPED In April, Israeli media reported an unusually large shipment of bombs arriving from the U.S. An unsourced report by public broadcaster Kan on April 17 said the delivery included hundreds of bombs, among them bunker busters. Iranian air defences were damaged by Israeli strikes during exchanges of fire last year, Israeli officials said then. As last week's attack began, Israel said Mossad commandos on the ground in Iran destroyed more of Iran's anti-aircraft systems. Despite Israeli air supremacy, Israeli officials have acknowledged that Iran's nuclear program cannot be disabled entirely by Israel's military, emphasising goals that fall short of its total destruction. A former senior Israeli security official told Reuters that while U.S. military support was needed to do damage to Iran's most deeply buried facility, the Fordow enrichment plant, Israel was not counting on Washington joining the attack. Israel has said it has not targeted Fordow - built beneath a mountain south of Tehran - to date, rather just the installations at Natanz and Isfahan. Either way, the former official said Israel had already done enough meaningful damage to Iran's nuclear program, declining to be named so he could speak freely about sensitive matters. If after the conflict ends Iran retained a residual uranium enrichment capability but not the people and facilities to do anything of concern with it, then this would be a major achievement, added the official. Trump has repeatedly said Iran could end the war by agreeing to tough restrictions on its enrichment program. Emily Harding from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said conventional wisdom held that Israel could not completely eliminate the deepest buried parts of Iran's nuclear program. "But Israel has strongly hinted that it has more capability than that conventional wisdom would suggest. For example, the ability to operate freely over the target allows for multiple sorties that could do a lot of damage," she said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
