The US is looking for a new leader for Iran: Politico has named the frontrunner
This is reported by Politico.
According to the publication’s sources, one of the key figures being considered by the White House for future negotiations is the 64-year-old Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Despite Galibaf’s strident rhetoric, having previously made harsh statements directed at the US, Washington views him as a pragmatic politician with whom business can be conducted.
Sources told the publication that no decisions regarding Ghalibaf have yet been made. The presidential administration, they added, wants to conduct “stress tests on several candidates”.
Economic stability remains a key priority for Donald Trump.
In particular, the US administration is refraining from attacks on strategically important sites, such as the island of Kharg, which is the main hub for Iranian oil exports.
The aim is to find a compromise with the future Iranian leadership, which would offer stable energy supplies in exchange for the opportunity to retain internal political control.
According to the publication’s sources, the son of Iran’s last shah, Reza Pahlavi, is not on this list of candidates.
As sources told Politico, the White House is considering a “Venezuelan scenario” for Iran, in which a politician who enjoys domestic support and is simultaneously loyal to the United States comes to power. The Trump administration does not believe that Pahlavi would have any legitimacy in Iran.
“Halibaf is the quintessential insider: ambitious and pragmatic, yet fundamentally committed to preserving the Islamic order in Iran. This makes him an unlikely candidate to offer Washington any substantial concessions,” said a senior analyst on Iran at the International Crisis Group.
Mohammadbagher Ghalibaf: what is known about him
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the Iran-Iraq War.
In 1999, he was appointed head of the Iranian police. From 2005 to 2017, he served as mayor of Tehran. Since 2020, he has held the post of Speaker of the Majlis, Iran’s unicameral parliament.
According to media reports, Ghalibaf took part in negotiations with the United States, following which Donald Trump announced the decision to postpone strikes on Iranian power stations for five days. Iran denies that the negotiations took place.
Agreement with Iran
The day before, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington and Tehran were holding talks on ending the war and already had “important points of agreement”.
According to him, the Iranian side is interested in reaching an agreement. He said that Tehran “really wants to reach a deal” and that this could happen within five days or sooner.
In addition, Trump announced that he had ordered the US military to suspend strikes on targets within Iran.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the US is in talks with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Commenting on these reports, Ghalibaf denied any contact with Washington and stressed that he continues to support Iran’s Supreme Leader.
