{"id":20703,"date":"2026-02-22T12:06:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T12:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iran-larijani-war-preparations\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T12:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T12:06:14","slug":"iran-larijani-war-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iran-larijani-war-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Iran\u2019s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival &#8211; The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>In early January 2026, amid nationwide unrest and mounting threats of U.S. strikes, Iran\u2019s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delegated day\u2011to\u2011day crisis management to Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Larijani, 67, a former Revolutionary Guards commander, has since widened his remit: suppressing protests, coordinating with regional interlocutors, overseeing nuclear diplomacy and drafting contingency plans to keep the Islamic Republic functioning under attack. His elevation has effectively sidelined President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has publicly emphasized his nonpolitical background and limited capacity to resolve the country\u2019s crises. Officials interviewed for this report say Larijani\u2019s team is focused on survivability\u2014hardening command networks, securing supply chains and preparing retaliatory options should a war be forced on Tehran.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ali Larijani, 67, now leads Iran\u2019s national security response following directives from Ayatollah Khamenei; his portfolio includes internal security, foreign liaising and nuclear talks.<\/li>\n<li>Sources for this article include six senior Iranian officials (one tied to Khamenei\u2019s office), three Revolutionary Guards members and two former diplomats; several spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/li>\n<li>Larijani supervised a forceful crackdown on recent nationwide protests; state security measures intensified in the weeks after his appointment.<\/li>\n<li>Tehran has increased diplomatic outreach to Russia, Qatar and Oman while negotiating with Washington on nuclear issues and contingency management.<\/li>\n<li>Larijani told Al Jazeera in February that Iran had spent seven to eight months identifying and fixing weaknesses and would not start a war but would respond if attacked.<\/li>\n<li>President Masoud Pezeshkian has been marginalized politically; he has repeatedly stated, &#8220;I&#8217;m a doctor, not a politician,&#8221; underscoring his constrained role.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. force posture in the region and Washington\u2019s threats have accelerated Iran\u2019s planning for continuity of government and asymmetric retaliation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Iran entered 2026 under acute pressure: a wave of domestic protests challenged the clerical establishment, while the United States signaled punitive options, including strikes. In early January, Ayatollah Khamenei moved to consolidate decision\u2011making by elevating Ali Larijani, a long\u2011time figure in Iran\u2019s security architecture, to a central coordinating role. Larijani\u2019s past combines political experience and service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a profile that has reassured hardliners worried about regime survival.<\/p>\n<p>President Masoud Pezeshkian, elected amid hopes for economic and social reform, has seen his authority erode as security priorities have overridden civilian governance. The split between a security\u2011first response and demands for political opening has framed intra\u2011elite debates, with factions disagreeing over how to balance repression, negotiation and international signaling. External actors\u2014including Russia and Gulf intermediaries\u2014have taken on greater importance as Tehran seeks partners for deterrence and de\u2011escalation.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>Since his elevation, Larijani has overseen a combination of domestic and external measures intended to preserve the Islamic Republic through pressure or conflict. Domestically, security services moved to quash the protests with lethal force in several cities and to roll out emergency controls on information and movement. Officials described layered contingency planning: dispersion of senior decision\u2011makers, redundancies for command and control, and prioritization of key infrastructure for continued governance.<\/p>\n<p>On the diplomatic front, Larijani has held interlocutions with regional partners and powers perceived as sympathetic or useful for mediation. Delegations and back\u2011channel contact with Qatar and Oman have been used to relay messages to Washington and to reduce immediate escalation risk. At the same time, Tehran has engaged with Moscow to clarify mutual expectations, particularly on regional deterrence and arms logistics.<\/p>\n<p>Larijani has also taken charge of nuclear negotiations, according to officials, linking diplomacy to survival planning rather than treating it as a standalone issue. The leadership has framed talks as part of a broader strategy to delay or avert conflict, while refining military and irregular options for retaliation. Leaders publicly and privately stress that Iran does not seek war but has prepared responses if strikes occur.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Larijani\u2019s ascent marks a shift toward securitized governance where crisis management is centralized under a trusted national security figure. That shift narrows room for civilian policy initiatives and increases the influence of security services over economic and social priorities. For Iranians, this may mean prolonged restrictions and diminished prospects for reform in the near term.<\/p>\n<p>Regionally, Iran\u2019s strengthened ties with intermediaries and with Russia aim to complicate any external attempt at decisive military action. Such partnerships can raise the costs for an adversary contemplating strikes, but they also risk expanding the geographic scope of confrontation and entangling third parties in any escalation. Diplomacy remains a dual track: stabilizing rhetoric publicly, contingency war\u2011planning privately.<\/p>\n<p>Economically, an extended securitization of governance and the threat of conflict could deter foreign investment, exacerbate inflationary pressures and deepen supply disruptions\u2014further constraining Tehran\u2019s policy options. For Washington and its partners, Larijani\u2019s consolidation reduces the leverage of reformist interlocutors and may make de\u2011escalation more contingent on cross\u2011channel confidence\u2011building measures.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Date<\/th>\n<th>Event<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>May 2024<\/td>\n<td>Public imagery of Ali Larijani circulates in Iranian press<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Early January 2026<\/td>\n<td>Ayatollah Khamenei assigns Larijani expanded crisis authority<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Feb 22, 2026<\/td>\n<td>Article summarizing Larijani\u2019s role published<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Selected timeline entries drawn from reported coverage and official images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The timeline above underscores how rapidly Larijani\u2019s operational role has grown in the space of weeks to months. While the dates are limited, they indicate a compressed decision cycle in Tehran, where security assessments now dominate policy sequencing.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe are ready in our country. We are definitely more powerful than before. We have prepared in the past seven, eight months. We found our weaknesses and fixed them,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ali Larijani, interview with Al Jazeera<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Larijani\u2019s public remarks to Al Jazeera encapsulate Tehran\u2019s message: deterrence through preparation. Officials say the statement also serves a domestic audience, signaling competence and control to both security elites and a population shaken by protests.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a doctor, not a politician,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>President Masoud Pezeshkian (public remarks)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Pezeshkian\u2019s repeated self\u2011description highlights his marginalization from security decision\u2011making. Observers interpret this as an attempt to lower expectations for swift reform while maintaining a public face of civilian governance.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Iran\u2019s key institutions and players<\/summary>\n<p>The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) coordinates national security policy and interagency responses; its secretary now exercises expanded authority over crisis management. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a parallel security force with political and economic reach, often central to internal security operations. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, holds ultimate authority over major security and foreign policy decisions, including appointment of trusted agents to manage emergencies. Understanding these institutions clarifies why Larijani\u2019s elevation carries both operational and symbolic weight for regime survival.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Precise lists of high\u2011value targets prepared for retaliation have not been publicly confirmed and remain described only in general terms by anonymous sources.<\/li>\n<li>Details about the physical dispersal plans for Iran\u2019s leadership and the locations of hardened command sites are reported in internal briefings but lack independent verification.<\/li>\n<li>The exact nature and timeline of any covert arrangements with foreign partners\u2014especially specific military or logistical guarantees from Russia\u2014are not fully corroborated.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Ali Larijani\u2019s expanded role reflects a regime prioritizing survival in the face of simultaneous domestic unrest and external pressure. Centralizing security decision\u2011making under a veteran operative reduces immediate fragmentation but narrows political space for civilian governance and reform. For outside actors, the central question is whether deterrence and diplomacy can outpace the momentum toward security\u2011first policy and avert a damaging escalation.<\/p>\n<p>Watch for three near\u2011term indicators: changes in U.S. force posture in the region, the pace and content of back\u2011channel diplomacy through Gulf intermediaries, and whether Tehran\u2019s security measures translate into longer\u2011term repression or a return to managed political openings. Each will shape whether Larijani\u2019s preparations remain defensive signaling or tip into broader confrontation.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/02\/22\/world\/middleeast\/iran-larijani-khamenei-pezeshkian.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times (news)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Al Jazeera (news\/interview)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early January 2026, amid nationwide unrest and mounting threats of U.S. strikes, Iran\u2019s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delegated day\u2011to\u2011day crisis management to Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Larijani, 67, a former Revolutionary Guards commander, has since widened his remit: suppressing protests, coordinating with regional interlocutors, overseeing nuclear diplomacy &#8230; <a title=\"Inside Iran\u2019s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival &#8211; The New York Times\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/iran-larijani-war-preparations\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Inside Iran\u2019s Preparations for War and Plans for Survival &#8211; The New York Times\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Inside Iran\u2019s War Preparations \u2014 DeepBrief","rank_math_description":"Ali Larijani has been entrusted to run Iran\u2019s crisis response, overseeing security, diplomacy and survival plans as tensions with the U.S. rise. Read an in\u2011depth analysis of implications and next steps.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Iran,Ali Larijani,Ayatollah Khamenei,war preparations,national security","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20703\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}