But the country’s notorious top nuclear and security official — Ali Larijani, the man allegedly behind Iran’s vicious crackdown on anti-regime protesters of recent months — could emerge as the most powerful man in the nation after the weekend’s chaos dies down, according to reports. But Pezeshkian — who was initially rumored to be one of the dozens of top officials killed in the Saturday strike on Tehran — responded with a virulent message to the west after Khamenei’s death, saying Iran has a “legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime.” “Larijani was one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people,” the US Treasury said in January after sanctions were imposed on him.
Author: Alex Oliveira
Published at: 2026-03-01 23:28:19
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