Ali Larijani Praises New Supreme Leader as Iran Navigates Most Dangerous Moment in Decades

Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani emerged as one of the most prominent voices endorsing Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as supreme leader on Sunday, describing the new leader as capable of guiding Iran through what he called its current sensitive conditions. Larijani’s endorsement carried particular weight given his longstanding role in Iran’s security and political establishment and his reputation as one of the most respected figures in the country’s governance architecture. His public backing was part of a coordinated institutional response that saw every major branch of Iran’s government declare its loyalty within hours.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was confirmed by the Assembly of Experts following a decisive vote. He succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran on February 28. The new supreme leader is a conservative cleric who built his influence through informal channels — managing his father’s inner circle, cultivating IRGC alliances, and maintaining close ties with hardline clergy — rather than through formal government service. His appointment is the first instance of father-to-son succession in the Islamic Republic’s history.
The broader institutional endorsement was comprehensive. The IRGC, armed forces, parliament, and security establishment all issued formal declarations of loyalty. Yemen’s Houthi rebels congratulated Mojtaba, calling his appointment a victory for the Islamic Revolution. State media broadcast the full spectrum of support alongside images of missiles bearing the new leader’s name. The coordinated nature of these endorsements suggested that the regime had been carefully preparing for this transition well before the public announcement.
The military situation continued to deteriorate on all fronts. Israel launched fresh strikes on Iranian infrastructure on Monday, adding to the damage already inflicted on multiple energy sites in and around Tehran. Iran struck five Gulf states simultaneously — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE — killing two people in Saudi Arabia and damaging Bahrain’s desalination plant. The IRGC threatened to push oil prices above $200 per barrel. The United States pledged not to target Iranian energy infrastructure.
Ali Larijani’s confidence in Mojtaba Khamenei may prove to be well-founded or premature — only events will tell. What is clear is that Iran’s most experienced security figures have staked their reputations on the new supreme leader’s ability to perform. For Mojtaba, the endorsements of figures like Larijani are both a source of legitimacy and a form of accountability. He must now deliver on the capabilities they have publicly vouched for.