Explainer: Why Iran's new Defence Council and leadership shake-up matter

Iran has announced the creation of a powerful new Defence Council under the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), in what analysts see as a major shift in its national security architecture, coming amid heightened regional tensions and a post-war reassessment of military strategy.

The move was confirmed alongside the appointment of veteran politician Ali Larijani as the new SNSC secretary, replacing Revolutionary Guards general Ali Akbar Ahmadian.

Larijani, 68, is a moderate conservative and longtime establishment figure who has previously served as parliament speaker and Iran’s top nuclear negotiator.

What is the new Defence Council?

The Defence Council is a newly created high-level body under the SNSC, Iran’s top authority on security and foreign policy, which is chaired by the president but supervised by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The SNSC was established in 1989 and makes decisions that must ultimately be approved by Khamenei.

According to Iranian media, the new council will include senior civilian and military figures, such as the heads of the three branches of government, two representatives of the Supreme Leader, the intelligence minister, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, and the top commanders of the IRGC, Army, and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

It is expected to be chaired by President Massoud Pezeshkian or a designated SNSC member. Its formation is based on Article 176 of Iran’s constitution, which allows the SNSC to create subordinate bodies to enhance national defence coordination.

Why now?

The creation of the council and Larijani’s appointment follow a 12-day war in June between Israel and Iran, in which the US later joined. Israeli strikes hit Iranian nuclear and military sites, reportedly killing dozens of commanders and exposing command and coordination gaps.

The new council appears to be part of a wider rethink of Iran's defence posture in response to what officials now view as more complex and immediate threats, including the prospect of renewed conflict with Israel or the United States, and the collapse of recent nuclear negotiations.

Although Iran has long had the constitutional basis to form such a council, activating it now signals the leadership's desire for a more agile, centralised structure for military decision-making.

Is this a revival of Iran's old war council?

Iranian media has drawn comparisons to the Supreme Defence Council (SDC) that functioned during the Iran–Iraq War. That wartime body coordinated battlefield operations but had limited authority. By contrast, the new Defence Council is being framed as a standing, institutionalised entity with real power and legal backing.

While the SDC was dissolved after the war and its functions absorbed by the SNSC, this new council represents a reassertion of centralised military coordination, potentially with more teeth.

What does Larijani’s return mean?

Ali Larijani’s appointment as SNSC secretary marks the return of one of Iran's most seasoned political figures to the national spotlight. A former IRGC member and son of a grand ayatollah, Larijani has served as nuclear negotiator, parliament speaker, and adviser to Khamenei.

He is known for his pragmatic approach and played a key role in backing the 2015 nuclear deal. His return could signal a shift in how Iran manages its external threats by balancing military assertiveness with strategic diplomacy.

His appointment also comes after his 2021 presidential bid was blocked by Iran's vetting body, despite his status as a top candidate. Analysts believe his re-emergence now reflects a broader political recalibration, possibly to project more continuity and institutional strength after recent military losses.

What are the political implications?

The move has sparked debate inside Iran, including criticism from some conservative MPs who fear that the council will sideline parliament. Hardliner Hamid Rasai warned that the Majlis could become "irrelevant" under the new system.

Others argue the council could help fix long-standing issues like overlapping responsibilities and fragmented authority. But reformist voices stress that the council's success depends on clearly defined powers, transparent leadership, and broad public trust.

As journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi put it in the Iranian daily Hammihan, the council's effectiveness hinges on avoiding redundancy and ensuring credible figures, like Larijani, are empowered to make decisions. Without that, he warned, the new body could become just another layer of bureaucracy.