Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is an Iranian politician and former military officer serving as speaker of the Parliament of Iran since 2020. A principlist, he was previously a member of the Expediency Discernment Council from 2017 to 2020, and was also mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017. Ghalibaf was formerly Iran's chief of Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2000 to 2005 and commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from 1997 to 2000.
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Stories...
Oct 2, 2026
Far Left
Parliament speaker sent a condolence message to Foreign Minister Araghchi over the death of his sister.
Reformists view Qalibaf as a Principalist rival who uses such gestures to appear statesmanlike while his camp blocks meaningful reform; they note the irony of a hardliner offering condolences to the very diplomat he often undermines.
Sep 20, 2026
Far Right
His quote 'face your real nightmare' dominates today's Kayhan coverage, aimed at domestic critics and Western adversaries.
Principlists praise him as a tough Parliament speaker who refuses compromise, but his presidential ambitions make him a lightning rod for both reformist attacks and conservative factional infighting.
Sep 12, 2026
Far Right
Kayhan highlights Qalibaf's remark telling critics to pretend they do not know what the next stage is, signaling behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
Principlists are divided: some see Qalibaf as a pragmatic insider managing factions, others distrust his ambiguous positioning as he navigates the conservative camp.
Sep 7, 2026
Lean Right
As Parliament Speaker, he defends the anti-infiltration bill and insists it must be precise and unambiguous, ensuring no intrusion on personal security.
Conservatives champion Qalibaf's push for a tough but legally sound anti-infiltration law as a necessary bulwark against foreign influence, seeing him as a steady institutional hand.
Sep 3, 2026
Lean Right
Speaker of Parliament warns of a new stage of hybrid warfare by the enemy after failures in military and diplomatic arenas.
Conservative audiences value his focus on external threats and the need for internal cohesion against US pressure campaigns.
Sep 3, 2026
Lean Left
Qalibaf, as head of Iran's negotiation team, warned on Tuesday about a new phase of 'hybrid war' by enemies after military and diplomatic failures.
Moderates view Qalibaf's warning as a rhetorical tool to rally support and justify security measures, but they are concerned it could overshadow pressing economic issues.
Aug 19, 2026
Far Left
Attacked the government's gasoline price increase as uncalculated and reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until all Iranian conditions are met, including unfreezing assets and ending threats.
Reformists see Qalibaf's rare public break with the government on fuel prices as political positioning, but they agree with his criticism of the austerity-style hike while also noting his hardline stance on the Strait keeps the war economy going.
Aug 13, 2026
Lean Left
Attended the eve of Imam Reza martyrdom ceremony at the Razavi shrine in Mashhad alongside Foreign Minister Araghchi.
As parliament speaker and a conservative heavyweight, his position on war and budget policy will determine whether moderates can push any peace dividend through the Majlis.
Aug 10, 2026
Far Left
The parliament speaker congratulated Mohsen Rezaei on his new security post.
His quick praise shows the Principalist bloc closing ranks around the Leader's choice, exactly what Reformists fear about institutional balance.
Jul 18, 2026
Lean Left
As Parliament Speaker, he congratulated the disabled volleyball team for not easily giving up their proud heritage.
Moderates see him using sports patriotism to distract from pressing economic and political crises at home.