Why Are The Larijanis Called 'Kennedys Of Iran' And Can Ali Larijani's Death Change Their Status?

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 15:26 IST

The term “Kennedys of Iran” has less to do with ideology and is more about dynasty, power, and influence

The assassination of Ali Larijani has not only removed one of the key figures of Iran’s security establishment but also brought back one of the most popular labels given to his family: the “Kennedys of Iran". But what exactly did that term mean, and how is it more significant in the wake of the leader’s assassination?

The term “Kennedys of Iran" has less to do with ideology and is more about dynasty, power, and influence. Just like the Kennedy family in the United States, the Larijanis are a political powerhouse with multiple members in powerful positions. Ali Larijani, prior to becoming the national security chief, was the Parliament speaker and nuclear negotiator. His brother, Sadeq Larijani, is the judiciary chief and the most powerful cleric in the nation. His other brother, Mohammad Javad Larijani, is one of the most powerful men in the nation’s foreign policy strategy. According to an article in The Economic Times, the family at one point controlled the legislature, judiciary, and foreign policy, which is an unprecedented concentration of power even in the elite system of Iran.

This was similar to the Kennedys where John F Kennedy served as President. His brother Robert F Kennedy was the Attorney General and later presidential candidate. Their other brother Ted Kennedy was a long-serving Senator and legislative heavyweight.

The Larijanis were not outsiders; they were part of the post-revolution system that was constructed after 1979, with close links to clerical leadership and the ideological center of the state. This is similar to how the Kennedys were embedded in the US political establishment.

ALI LARIJANI’S DEATH

Although the family held considerable power, it was Ali Larijani who became the most prominent and powerful figure.

Not just that, but he was also a bridge between hardliners and pragmatists. Besides that, he had been very instrumental in Iran’s nuclear talks. As of 2026, in the middle of the war, he had already become Iran’s de facto leader, especially after the death of Ali Khamenei.

The death of Ali Larijani in an airstrike not just represents a turning point in Iran’s history, but also that of the family.

Since he was seen as the brain behind the operation during wartime, coordinating all actions, his death is a blow to the family’s overall control.

The Larijanis represented continuity within Iran’s complex power structure, linking clerics, politicians, and security elites. Without Ali Larijani, that bridge is significantly weakened.

Much like how assassinations reshaped the Kennedy legacy in the US, Larijani’s death could fragment the family’s influence, reduce its centrality in decision-making, and open space for new power centres, especially within the security establishment.

News explainers Why Are The Larijanis Called 'Kennedys Of Iran' And Can Ali Larijani's Death Change Their Status?

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