Khaberni - It appears that appointing a replacement for Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official who was assassinated by Israel on Tuesday, will be a challenging task. He was considered by many analysts to be the most important decision-maker in the country and a skillful negotiator capable of navigating between different regime factions and handling international dealings, according to the network CNN.
Under the Iranian constitution, President Masoud Pezeshkian will appoint the new Secretary-General of the National Security Council, amid increasing speculation that a prominent figure in the regime, such as Saeed Jalili, might take over this role.
Analysts told CNN that there is a strong precedent for a representative of the Supreme Leader in the National Security Council to assume this position.
Jalili is likely to be a favored choice after Larijani’s assassination, as he has previously held the position of National Security Advisor and was the chief negotiator in the nuclear dossier and is currently a member of the Expediency Discernment Council.
Iranian affairs expert and writer Arash Azizi, who is also a lecturer and historian at Yale University in the US, said: "Jalili is among the hardliners, leading one of the most anti-Western and extreme factions within the regime."
He added: "His rise to this position would mark a sharp turn toward the hardline current, as Larijani was seen as a more moderate and pragmatic figure."
"Power Balances"
However, Jalili may be less skilled in managing the balances within the regime's components compared to Larijani, according to CNN.
Azizi said: "His rigidity and hardline stance could become a weakness for the regime, reducing his ability to maneuver under the challenging circumstances it faces."
He pointed out that the Revolutionary Guard "currently holds most of the actual power in Iran," and might prefer a figure with "greater military experience, better suited for the current phase."
It is expected that Larijani's successor will play a pivotal role in any potential negotiations to end the war.
Azizi said: "As the National Security Council has become the main center of power in Iran, the identity of Larijani's successor will determine the power balances within the regime and influence its stance towards the United States and Israel in any potential negotiations."
After the assassination of Larijani, Jalili posted a message saying: "These actions will not save the feeble enemy from the quagmire they are stuck in, but will hasten their defeat and humiliation," as reported by the semi-official "Tasnim" agency.
