Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has come under renewed scrutiny as the war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel enters its fourth week, with reports suggesting he could play a role in potential negotiations.
Ghalibaf denied that any talks with Washington have taken place, after media reports claimed he had been considered as a possible negotiating partner.
“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets,” he wrote on X.
Power struggle after Khamenei death
Questions remain over Ghalibaf’s influence within Iran’s political system following the Israeli airstrike on 28 February that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei’s son Mojtaba Khamenei has since taken the role of supreme leader, though uncertainty surrounds his position as multiple power centres compete for influence inside the Islamic Republic.
Analysts say Ghalibaf could benefit from the shifting balance, as Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly supported his past presidential campaigns.
Long career in security and politics
Ghalibaf, 64, joined the Revolutionary Guard during the Iran-Iraq war and later led its air force. He also served as Iran’s police chief before becoming mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017.
During his career, he faced corruption allegations and criticism for his role in crackdowns on protests, though diplomats often described him as pragmatic compared with other hard-liners.
He ran for president several times but never won, despite reports that he had strong backing from powerful figures within the system.
Western reports spark reaction
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency dismissed Western media reports about Ghalibaf as a “political bomb” intended to create division inside the country.
According to the agency, mentioning his name as a negotiator aimed to present Iran as divided and weaken its position during the crisis.
War raises stakes
The speculation comes as tensions remain high in the region and diplomatic channels appear uncertain.
US President Donald Trump recently said talks could take place but refused to name the Iranian contact, saying he did not want the person to be targeted.
The situation has increased attention on figures like Ghalibaf, whose role could grow if negotiations begin or if Iran’s leadership structure continues to shift.
Also read: Iran says armed forces will fight until “complete victory”
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
