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Supreme National Security Council

The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC; ), also known as the Supreme Council for National Security, is the national security council of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The council was formed for the protection and support of national interests and Islamic revolution and territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the country. This institution was founded during the 1989 revision of the constitution.

Ali Larijani, who was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was assassinated on 17 March 2026. Larijani was succeeded by Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, the secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, on March 24, 2026. Zolghadr was apparently appointed under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Functions

The responsibilities of the council are defined by the constitution as:

  1. Determining the defense and national security policies of the country within the framework of general policies determined by the Supreme Leader.
  2. Coordination of political activities, intelligence, social, cultural and economic fields relating to general policies of defense and national security.
  3. Exploitation of material and intellectual resources of the country for facing the internal and external threats.

Nuclear policy

Supreme National Security Council formulates the country's nuclear policy. The nuclear policies formulated by the council would become effective if they are confirmed by the Supreme Leader. The secretary of the Supreme council was the chief nuclear negotiator of Iran until 5 September 2013 when responsibility for nuclear talks was assigned to the ministry of foreign affairs.

Composition

This National Security Council is mandated by Article 176 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran to be presided over by the president of the country. The President appoints the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council through an official decree. The decisions of the Council are effective after the confirmation by the Supreme Leader. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) are at the top of the foreign policy decisions process.

List of secretaries

Members

As of 17 March 2026, following members are:

See also

References and notes

Further reading

  • Wege, Carl Anthony. "Iranian intelligence organizations." International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence 10.3 (1997): 287-298.
  • Wege, Carl Anthony. "Iranian Counterintelligence." International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence 32.2 (2019): 272-294.

External links