It’s the Family that Counts

Powerful families in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The Islamic Republic’s is also a story of powerful families: the Khomeinis, the Marashis, the Khameneis, the Larijanis, to name a few.

One of the best sources to gather information about family linkages among powerful Iranian clerics and politicians is Boroujerdi & Rahimkhani’s “Postrevolutionary Iran: A Political Handbook” (2018)

Here are some family trees:

As of Dec 30, 2018. On that day Sadegh Larijani was appointed head of the Expediency Council, replacing Shahroudi. Later in 2019, Raisi would replace him as head of Judiciary. Back then, though, the Larijani’s was definitely one of the most powerful families in Iran, holding 3 of the most relevant offices in the country.

As of Dec 30, 2019. On the day before, Ali Baqeri-Kani replaced Mohammad-Javad Larijani as secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights. Considering Sadegh Larijani’s removal from the Judiciary during 2019 and Ali Larijani’s tenure as Majlis Speaker coming to an end in February 2020, the Larijani family suddenly looked much less powerful than just a year before. Sic transit gloria mundi…