Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf's speech Thursday in Baku acknowledged over 3,000 dead and 30,000 wounded, the destruction of critical infrastructure, and the killing of the Supreme Leader — while still describing the Islamabad MOU as a 'declaration of defeat' for the US. Ghalibaf also appealed to Gulf states for reconstruction investment, according to Iranian opposition reporting via The Zioneer.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a speech Wednesday evening at the Parliamentary Union of the OIC (PUIC) conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, in which he described the toll of what he called the 'Forty Days War' in unprecedented detail for a senior regime figure, according to Iranian opposition media tracked by The Zioneer.
Ghalibaf admitted that Iran suffered over 3,000 dead and more than 30,000 wounded, the systematic destruction of industrial, medical, energy, and transportation infrastructure, and the assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei alongside senior military and political officials. Despite this catalogue of devastation, he characterized the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding with the United States as a 'declaration of defeat' for America, claiming Iran forced Washington 'to surrender on the battlefields.'
The speech also addressed Hezbollah and the 'axis of resistance.' Ghalibaf insisted Iran 'did not abandon its friends' and argued that the ceasefire in Lebanon was as important as Iran's own ceasefire — a claim that opposition analysts describe as a face-saving move after Tehran used Lebanon as a bargaining chip.
The most significant section was Ghalibaf's direct appeal to wealthy Gulf states for economic cooperation and investment in reconstruction, offering 'security agreements made viable through economic collaboration.' This comes as Iran's energy infrastructure is devastated and the regime lacks funds for rebuilding — effectively seeking Gulf capital under a promise of Islamic solidarity.
The Zioneer has reported multiple times on Ghalibaf's shifting narrative: on June 17 he claimed victory while acknowledging destruction; on June 24 he reiterated the MOU as a US defeat. This Baku speech provides the most detailed damage assessment yet from a senior Iranian official.
2 developments
- DevelopingIranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf: Islamabad MOU is a declaration of America's defeat
- DevelopingIran speaker Ghalibaf threatens 'crushing blow' if US violates digital nuclear deal
- DevelopingIranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf: If the enemy doesn't understand reason, we'll speak the language of force
- DevelopingIranian parliament speaker: 'Iran has taken a big step toward final victory'
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