The Trump administration has selected a representative for potential negotiations with Iran, according to Politico
President Donald Trump’s administration has begun a cautious shift away from military pressure on Iran toward seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The 64-year-old Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is seen as a key figure in potential negotiations.
Politico reports on this.
Although Ghalibaf has repeatedly threatened the U.S. in the past, the White House views him as a pragmatic and capable partner who could lead the country into the next phase of the conflict.
The administration is conducting a sort of “stress test” of several candidates within the Iranian system, trying to find someone willing to strike a favorable deal, particularly regarding oil, similar to the Venezuelan scenario with Delcy Rodríguez.
President Trump is demonstrating an interest in economic stabilization, avoiding strikes on the critical oil hub—the island of Kharg. He hopes that the future Iranian leader will agree to priority energy supplies in exchange for remaining in power.
At the same time, the option of bringing opposition figure Reza Pahlavi back from exile is considered unrealistic, as he lacks domestic legitimacy. Washington, instead, is focusing on finding “Chavist equivalents” among the current Iranian elite who have real influence within the country.
Some analysts are skeptical of this strategy due to the deep mistrust of the U.S. held by the Iranian military establishment. Nevertheless, the administration is hoping for the success of the Venezuelan model and aims to make progress by the end of the week on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and securing a ceasefire to calm global markets and curb rising oil prices.
