‘We're in the testing phase’: Trump admin eyeing Iran’s parliament speaker as US-backed leader |
‘We're in the testing phase’: Trump admin eyeing Iran’s parliament speaker as US-backed leader
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is seen by at least some in the White House as a workable partner.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf waves after voting during the presidential election in Tehran on June 28, 2024. | Atta Kenar/AFP via Getty Images
The Trump administration is quietly weighing Iran’s parliament speaker as a potential partner — and even a future leader — as the president signals a shift from military pressure toward a negotiated endgame.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the 64-year-old who has repeatedly threatened the U.S. and its allies with retaliation, is seen by at least some in the White House as a workable partner, who could lead Iran and negotiate with the Trump administration in the war’s next phase, according to two administration officials.
But the White House isn’t ready to commit to any one person, hoping to stress test multiple candidates as they look for someone willing to make a deal, said the two people, both granted anonymity to describe internal thinking.