Overview
- Le Figaro reports that Hassan Rouhani and former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attempted a January 7–8 'soft coup' to remove Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from crisis decision-making.
- The alleged effort collapsed without the backing of Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, after which Rouhani and Zarif were reportedly placed under brief house arrest and reformist allies were detained.
- The New York Times relays that Khamenei assigned Larijani to manage state affairs more than a month ago, leaving President Masoud Pezeshkian largely sidelined.
- Accounts describe Larijani as directing the protest crackdown, coordinating with Russia, Qatar and Oman, supervising nuclear contacts with Washington, and preparing contingency plans for potential conflict with the United States.
- Analysts cited in the coverage urge skepticism given scarce confirmation and add that Larijani’s prominence would not supplant the supreme leader’s unique authority.