Role in the January 2026 protest crackdown: 'terrorist' framing of protesters and US sanctions
Ali Larijani was secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council during the January 2026 nationwide protests. Outlets reported that, as the crackdown peaked, he called protesters 'quasi-terrorist urban groups' on state TV and said armed forces must step in. The US Treasury sanctioned him for coordinating the response. He and other officials blamed foreign powers and armed protesters.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Reply on X to Trump: Americans should 'take care of their own soldiers' - After Donald Trump (@realdonaldtrump) wrote that the US would 'come to their rescue' if Iran killed peaceful protesters, Larijani posted on X that US intervention in the 'domestic problem' would bring chaos to the whole region and that Americans 'should take care of their own soldiers'. NPR reported he accused the US and Israel of stoking the protests without offering evidence. Reuters and Al Jazeera also covered the exchange. Trump and Iran trade new threats on social media
- State TV interview as the crackdown peaked: protesters a 'quasi-terrorist urban group' - In a January 9 state TV interview, a day after a nationwide internet shutdown, Larijani described the unrest as the work of a 'quasi-terrorist urban group', said protesters who moved on military and police centers sought 'civil war', and said ringleaders had been identified and 'will be dealt with', Iran International and state-affiliated Tasnim reported. Radio Farda quoted him saying armed forces must step in to end the unrest. Tehran accuses protesters of bearing arms, vows 'they will be dealt with'
- US Treasury sanctions Larijani over the crackdown - On January 15, 2026 the US Treasury designated Larijani. The statement announced by Scott Bessent (@secscottbessent) said he was responsible for coordinating the protest response on behalf of the Supreme Leader and was 'one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence' against protesters. Reuters, AP and Radio Farda reported the sanctions. Secretary Bessent Announces Sanctions Against Architects of Iran's Brutal Crackdown on Peaceful Protests
- NYT reports the crackdown order went to the Security Council he led - The New York Times, citing two Iranian officials briefed on the directive, reported that Ali Khamenei (@khamenei_fa) ordered the Supreme National Security Council, where Larijani was secretary, on January 9 to crush the protests 'by any means necessary'. The Institute for the Study of War said this was consistent with reports that Larijani played a leading role in the crackdown. How Iran Crushed a Citizen Uprising With Lethal Force
- Radio Farda analysis: his role in the internet shutdown and the 'ISIS' framing - A Radio Farda analysis said Larijani was the first senior official to blame the January 8-9 protests on 'terrorists' and introduced comparisons with ISIS into the official narrative. It said that when Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) asked him to restore the internet, it became clear the council secretary was the decision-maker. An Iran International review traced how officials hardened their tone after January 8. نقش علی لاریجانی در اجرای فرمان سرکوب خونبار اعتراضات چیست؟