Wikipedia

Saeed Jalili

Saeed Jalili (Persian: سعید جلیلی; born 6 September 1965) is an Iranian politician and diplomat, who was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2007 to 2013. He is currently a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, and is the former nuclear negotiator for Iran.[2]

Saeed Jalili
سعید جلیلی
Jalili in 2021
Member of Expediency Discernment Council
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 September 2013
Appointed byAli Khamenei
PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad
ChairmanAkbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Ali Movahedi-Kermani (Acting)
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Sadeq Larijani
Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council
In office
20 October 2007 – 12 September 2013
Preceded byAli Larijani
Succeeded byAli Shamkhani
Chief Nuclear Negotiator of Iran
In office
21 October 2007 – 5 September 2013
PresidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad
DeputyAli Bagheri
Preceded byAli Larijani
Succeeded byMohammad Javad Zarif
Director of General Inspection Office
In office
5 March 1995 – 8 October 1996
Appointed byAli Khamenei
PresidentAkbar Rafsanjani
Personal details
Born (1965-09-06) 6 September 1965 (age 59)
Mashhad, Iran
Political partyNonpartisan
Spouse
Fatemeh Sajjadi
​
(m. 1993)​
[1]
Children1
Residence(s)Lavizan, Tehran[1]
Alma materImam Sadegh University
Signature
Websitedrjalily.com
Military service
Allegiance Iran
Branch/serviceBasij
Unit5th Nasr Division
Battles/wars

He was previously deputy foreign minister for European and American Affairs, and an unsuccessful candidate in the June 2013 presidential election, placing third. He also ran in 2021, but withdrew in favour of Ebrahim Raisi before the election. Jalili contested the 2024 presidential election but was defeated by Masoud Pezeshkian in a runoff election.[3][4]

Jalili was a soldier in the Iran–Iraq War and had lost part of his right leg during the Siege of Basra.[5] Upon this event, he earned the title of "Living Martyr".[6] He holds a PhD in political science, and teaches the "Prophet's diplomacy" at the Imam Sadiq University.[7] In 2009, Jalili was named as one of the 500 most influential people in the Muslim world.[8] His tenure as chief negotiator on Iran's nuclear program was characterized by an uncompromising approach.[9]

Jalili is known for his staunch hardline positions and confrontational rhetoric against the West, while pushing for stronger relations with Russia and China. Backed by the fundamentalist Paydari Front, He attributes Iran's economic troubles to international sanctions and rejects social liberalization. This has earned him significant influence as well as discomfort among the more pragmatic factions within the Iranian establishment.[9]

Personal life and education

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Jalili was born in 1965 in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran.[10][11] His father, Mohammad Hasan Muallem, was the principal of Nawab Safavi Primary School in Mashhad. He married with Fatemeh Sajjadi, a doctor of internal medicine, in 1992. They have one child, a son named Sajjad. Jalili was a resident of Karaj until 2004.[12][13][14] Vahid, Jalili's brother, is one of the fundamentalist cultural activists. Jalili is familiar with English and Arabic.

He holds a PhD in Political Science from Imam Sadeq University and his doctoral thesis entitled "The Paradigm (Foundation) of Political Thought of Islam in the Qu’ran" was later developed into a book by the name of "The Foreign Policy of the Prophet (Prophet Muhammad)."[15][16][17] After graduating, he served in the Iran–Iraq War as a member of the Basij volunteers of the Revolutionary Guards.[18] During the fighting, he was injured severely, losing the lower portion of his right leg in 1986.[19][20] He has taught political science since 2000 in different intervals at Imam Sadeq University.[21]

Career

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Following the war, Jalili began working as a university lecturer at his alma mater. In 1989 Jalili began working at the ministry of foreign affairs in addition to his teaching post.[18] From 1995 to 1996 he served as director of the inspection office at the ministry.[22] In 2001, he was appointed senior director of policy planning in the office of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[18] Jalili was also made a member of the Supreme National Security Council in 2002.

Following the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency in August 2005, Jalili was appointed deputy foreign minister for European and American affairs.[22] He was in office until October 2007.[23] During the same period, he also served as an advisor to Ahmedinejad.[24] On 20 October 2007, Jalili replaced Ali Larijani as secretary of the council and became responsible for international negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.[23][25] Jalili's term as secretary of the council ended on 10 September 2013 when Ali Shamkhani was appointed to the post.[26] Immediately after leaving the office, he was appointed by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to the Expediency Council as a member.[27]

Activities and views

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Jalili is a leading figure of the "neo-principalist" group in the Iranian political scene and a protégé of Mojtaba Khamenei.[24][28] A 2008 leaked diplomatic cable described how a European Union official who met Jalili call him "a true product of the Iranian revolution." Mohammad Marandi, a professor at Tehran University, described Jalili as a tough negotiator who "believes strongly in Iran's nuclear program and its sovereign rights. He's not the sort of person to give major concessions."[29]

In an interview with The Boston Globe in 2006, Jalili defended Iran's plans to develop nuclear energy, noting that, under the Shah and before the Iranian Revolution, US companies had contracts to build nuclear power plants in Iran.[citation needed]

He was a true believer in the Iranian Revolution. He was constantly taking notes during the session, and at the same time had a wry smile on his face. Jalili and his colleagues looked at me many times and seemed to find the presence of America worrying. Then he started giving a 40-minute long speech and weaving unnecessary philosophy about the Iranian culture and history, as well as the constructive role it can play in the region. Jalili shockingly blurts out words when he wants to avoid a direct answer, and this was exactly one of those moments. He even mentioned that he is still teaches part-time at Tehran University. But, I was not at all jealous of his students. In the 1980s, he was wounded in the battle with the Iraqis, he had lost part of his right leg and was facing obvious problems in walking.[30]

— William J. Burns

We learned a lot about Iran's history and Iran's herds during the many hours we listened to Mr. Jalili's speeches. Unfortunately, little progress was made in the negotiations during that period. Since the summer of 2013, the negotiations have continued in a much more serious and professional manner, and very little time has been spent on speech objections, and most of the time has been spent on professional and informal business meetings. Jalili talked about the History of Islam and Iran, we learned a lot of history.[31]

— Robert J. Einhorn, former U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, in an interview about Jailili

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Jalili during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988)

Jalili has 18 years of experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the age of 26, he was elected as the head of the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and remained in the position until 1996. In 1997, he became the director of current investigations of the leadership office in the Mohammad Khatami's government, he later returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government and worked as the deputy foreign minister for European and American Affairs.[32]

Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council

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In 2006, Gholam-Hossein Elham, the spokesman of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, announced the resignation of Ali Larijani and introduced Saeed Jalili as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. After that, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, chose Jalili as his representative at the Supreme National Security Council in 2007.[33][34] The peak and indicator of Jalili's activity in the Supreme National Security Council was his heading of the negotiations concerning Iran's development of nuclear technology. When Hassan Rouhani took office in August 2013, he dismissed Jalili and appointed Ali Shamkhani as the secretary of the council.[35]

Member of the Expediency Discernment Council

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As the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Jalili was a legal member of the Expediency Council. After being dismissed by Rouhani, Ali Khamenei appointed him again as a member of the council in 2013.

Member of the Foreign Relations Strategic Council

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Khamenei appointed Saeed Jalili as a member of the Strategic Council of Foreign Relations in 2014. He is currently the head of this council.[36]

2013 presidential candidacy

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See also: 2013 Iranian presidential election

Jalili was a candidate in the 2013 presidential elections, announcing his candidacy on 22 March 2013.[37] He was supported by Front of Islamic Revolution Stability and also by Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, the party's main candidate who declined his candidacy in favour of Jalili. His campaign slogan was "A Pleasant Life".[38] He received 4,168,946 and was ranked third, behind president-elect Hassan Rouhani and runner up Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Shadow Cabinet

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Jalili during a speech in 2015

In 2013, after his defeat in the presidential election, Jalili proposed a plan of the Shadow Cabinet to help the Hassan Rouhani government and compensate for its shortcomings.[39][40] He has held several meetings to criticise the government and offer a solution.[41] In early 2021, he met 19 members of parliament and explained a plan to reform the budget structure.[42] They also took a petrochemical refinery development plan to the Larijani parliament (right-wing political opposition) and approved it, and the plan was communicated to the Rouhani government (left-wing political opposition) for implementation.[43] Jalili explained the Shadow Cabinet is neither a party nor an organisation, but a Discourse and it means that everyone must follow the process of developments, shadow by shadow to have a positive impact on the path of the Islamic Revolution.[44]

2021 presidential candidacy

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See also: 2021 Iranian presidential election

Before the last day of registration for the presidential election, he was considered one of the most likely candidates. Although Jalili had said he would not register if Ebrahim Raisi entered the election,[45] with the flood of members and supporters of the established government such as Jahangiri, Larijani, Shariatmadari, Akhundi and Hemmati, it is conflict that he registered in the election individually or to support Raisi.[46][47]

 
Jalili speaking at a conference, 26 April 2017

2024 presidential candidacy

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See also: 2024 Iranian presidential election

In May 2024, Jalili registered his candidacy for president in the 2024 presidential election.[48] On 29 June, he secured 40.38% of the votes during the first round of the election, taking second place behind reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian, and thus qualifying for runoff.[49] Jalili received support from unsuccessful candidate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who placed third, as well as from Alireza Zakani and Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh, who had both previously dropped out.[50]

Electoral history

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Main article: Electoral history of Saeed Jalili
Year Election Votes % Rank Notes
2004 Parliament Lost
2008 Parliament Lost
2013 President 4,168,946 11.31 3rd Lost
2021 President – Withdrew
2024 President 9,473,298  38.61  2nd  Went to run-off
President run off 13,538,179  45.24%   2nd Lost

Books

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  • Foreign Policy of the Prophet of Islam (Persian: سیاست خارجی پیامبر اسلام)
  • The Paradigm of Islamic Political Thought in Quran (Persian: بنیان اندیشۀ سیاسی اسلام در قرآن)

References

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  1. ^ a b "تمام اطلاعات خانوادگی کاندیداهای ریاست جمهوری یازدهم". Isna. 13 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Iran's presidential election heads to a runoff after reformist wins most votes". CNN. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Iran election: Hardliners dominate presidential candidates". BBC News. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  4. ^ Wintour, Patrick (6 July 2024). "Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian wins Iran presidential election". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  5. ^ "مرکز اسناد انقلاب اسلامی - تصاویر منتشر نشده از دکتر سعید جلیلی". 8 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. ^ Garrett Nada; Helia Ighani (11 June 2013). "Old War Haunts New Election". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. ^ "موضوع پایان نامه دکترای جلیلی چیست؟ + دانلود خلاصه - مشرق نیوز". 30 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. ^ "The 500 Most Influential Muslims" (PDF). Center of Muslim-Christian Understanding. 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Iran's supreme leader is terrified of people power". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Biography of Iran's top nuclear negotiator". IRNA English (in Persian). 22 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Factbox: Iran's new atomic negotiator Saeed Jalili". Reuters. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. ^ Biography: Jalili Parssea
  13. ^ "جلیلی با موتور به صدا و سیما آمد+ ویدیو". 4 April 1403.
  14. ^ حبیب, جواد آل (2 July 2024). "اندیشه معاصر - مدرک تحصیلی سعید جلیلی اندیشه معاصر". اندیشه معاصر.
  15. ^ "Candidate Profile: Saeed Jalili". Asharq Al-Awsat English. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Saeed Jalili: The former nuclear negotiator that rubs diplomats the wrong way". Atlantic Council. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  17. ^ "موضوع پایان نامه دکترای جلیلی چیست؟ + دانلود خلاصه". Mashregh News (in Persian). 16 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Vatanka, Alex (21 September 2012). "Khamenei and Iran's 2013 elections". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  19. ^ Anti-West Hard-Liner Gains in Iranian Race Thomas Erdbrink, New York Times, 28 May 2013
  20. ^ "Biographies of Eight Qualified Candidates for Iran Presidential Election". Iran Review. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  21. ^ "گزارشي از شروع تدريس سعيد جليلي دردانشگاه امام‌صادق(ع) + عكس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 4 February 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Iran's approved presidential candidates". CBS News. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Iran's Top Nuclear Negotiator Ali Larijani Resigns". Fox News. AP. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  24. ^ a b Frederic Wehrey; Jerrold D. Green; Brian Nichiporuk; Alireza Nader; Lydia Hansell; Rasool Nafisi; S. R. Bohandy (2009). "The Rise of the Pasdaran" (PDF). RAND Corporation. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  25. ^ Posch, Walter (November 2007). "Only personal? The Larijani Crisis Revisited" (PDF). Policy Brief (3). Retrieved 17 June 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  26. ^ "Rouhani Appointed Former Defense Minister as the Secretary of NSC". Nasim Online. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Jalili appointed to the Expediency Council". Iran Daily Brief. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  28. ^ Sabet, Farzan (June 2013). "The Islamic Republic's political elite and Syria" (PDF). IranPolitik. Archived from the original (Special Report) on 11 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  29. ^ Iran's negotiator – rigid ideologue close to Khamenei Marcus George, Reuters, 25 February 2013
  30. ^ "ویلیام برنز: جلیلی ۴۰ دقیقه فلسفه بافی بی مورد درمورد فرهنگ و تاریخ ایران کرد؛ حتی از تدریسش در دانشگاه تهران هم سخن گفت / پاسخ جلیلی باعث شد برچسب «بچه‌ی مسئله ساز دیپلماسی» به ایران بخورد | سایت انتخاب". 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  31. ^ نیوز, اخبار روز ایران و جهان | آفتاب (10 May 2024). "مذاکرات زمان جلیلی به شنیدن نطق درباره تاریخ اسلام و ایران می گذشت/ حسابی تاریخ آموختیم". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  32. ^ YJC, خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران | آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان | (10 May 2024). "سعيد جليلي؛ فردي با سابقه اجرايي 18 ساله در وزارت امور خارجه". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  33. ^ "چه کسانی عضو شورای عالی امنیت ملی هستند؟ - مشرق نیوز". 14 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 August 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  34. ^ ایران, عصر (10 May 2024). "جلیلی دبیر شورای عالی امنیت ملی شد". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  35. ^ "شمخانی دبیر شورای عالی امنیت ملی شد، ابتکار رییس سازمان محیط زیست". 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  36. ^ خارجی, شورای راهبردی روابط (7 December 2014). "آشنایی با شورای راهبردی روابط خارجی". شورای راهبردی روابط خارجی (in Persian). Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Potential Candidates". Iran Election Watch. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  38. ^ "سعید جلیلی برای 1400؟". خبرگزاری برنا (in Persian). Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  39. ^ "روزنامه آرمان ملی: "دولت سايه" از پاستور نمي‌گذرد". www.pishkhan.com. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  40. ^ "با وزرای "دولت سایه" جلیلی آشنا شوید | پایگاه خبری تحلیلی انصاف نیوز". انصاف نیوز (in Persian). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  41. ^ "دولت سایه یا دولت فشار؟/ سعید جلیلی به دنبال چیست؟". دیدبان ایران (in Persian). Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  42. ^ "پیشنهاد "دولت سایه " سعید جلیلی این‌بار به مجلس یازدهم". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 25 December 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  43. ^ "طرحی که با پیگیری جلیلی و دولت سایه، در مجلس لاریجانی تصویب و به دولت روحانی ابلاغ شد!". rajanews.com (in Persian). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  44. ^ "توضیحات جلیلی درباره دولت سایه". www.tabnak.ir. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  45. ^ "انصراف سعید جلیلی از کاندیداتوری در صورت ثبت‌نام رئیسی". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  46. ^ "جلیلی نامزد پوششی رئیسی نیست". نامه نیوز (in Persian). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  47. ^ "ببینید | زاکانی و جلیلی کاندیدای پوششی رئیسی در انتخابات هستند؟". خبرآنلاین (in Persian). 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  48. ^ "Iran opens registration for the June presidential election after Raisi died in a helicopter crash". Associated Press. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  49. ^ "Iran Presidential Election: Final Figures Put Pezeshkian and Jalili in Run-off". Iran Press. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  50. ^ "Iran heads to presidential run-off on July 5 amid record low turnout". Al Jazeera. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council
2007–2013 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Chief Nuclear Negotiator of Iran
2007–2013 		Succeeded by
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