Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and a former senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In June 2026, he emerged as a central diplomatic figure for the Iranian regime, serving as a primary signatory for the 'Islamabad Agreement' framework with the United States.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (born 1961) is a veteran of the Iranian security and political establishment, currently serving as the Speaker of the Parliament (Majlis). A former pilot and commander of the IRGC Air Force, Ghalibaf has long been viewed as a pragmatic hardliner who bridges the gap between the military elite and the civilian government. His career includes a decade-long tenure as the Mayor of Tehran and a stint as Iran's chief of police, though his record has been shadowed by allegations of corruption and his role in suppressing student protests. In June 2026, Ghalibaf’s role shifted from domestic legislator to a primary international envoy. Amidst an escalating regional conflict and direct military friction with the United States, Ghalibaf was selected to lead the Iranian delegation in finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. On Monday, June 15, 2026, Ghalibaf participated in a rare trilateral electronic signing of the agreement alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. This digital act bypassed the logistical complexities of a physical ceremony and marked a significant procedural milestone. Following the signing, Ghalibaf aggressively defended what he termed Iran's 'negotiation culture,' describing diplomacy as a 'method of struggle' that is most effective when backed by military deterrence. However, his diplomatic standing has been complicated by domestic security crises. In mid-June 2026, reports emerged that the IRGC was investigating his son, Elias Ghalibaf, for a sensitive security leak involving a meeting of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. By Sunday, June 21, 2026, Ghalibaf's delegation abruptly walked out of follow-up talks in Switzerland in protest of renewed American military threats, highlighting the extreme volatility of the diplomatic track.