Ali Larijani Positioned as Iran's De Facto Leader Amid Rising US Tensions

Ali Larijani, currently Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, is regarded as the Islamic Republic's de facto leader and a key figure in regime continuity amid rising tensions with the United States. A veteran politician and founding member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Larijani has played significant roles including architecting the 25-year strategic agreement with China and managing regional relations. Though not a cleric and thus not a traditional successor, he is entrusted by Supreme Leader Khamenei to lead Iran through potential national emergencies or leadership crises.