Iranian press review: Reports of US backchannel to Ghalibaf cause backlash in Tehran

Iranian press review: Reports of US backchannel to Ghalibaf cause backlash in Tehran Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 03/26/2026 - 11:03 Meanwhile, cancer patients face difficulties getting treatment, opposition figures condemn attacks on infrastructure, Iranians ridicule Pahlavi for claiming credit for public traditions Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is pictured after meeting his Lebanese counterpart in Beirut on 12 October 2024 (AFP) Off Speculation of talks with Ghalibaf sparks criticism Reports suggesting that the US may be engaging in negotiations with Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and speculation that President Donald Trump could support his rise within Iran ’s power structure have triggered widespread backlash among Iranians. Ghalibaf, a former senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has many times spoken openly about his role in the violent suppression of the 1999 student movement. He also served as mayor of Tehran for 12 years, a tenure marked by repeated allegations of corruption.