Iran's parliament and Revolutionary Guard have threatened counterattacks if the U.S. acts against Iran, according to Iranian officials. Inhabitants in Iran have demonstrated against attacks by Israel and the U.S., an official source reported. Multiple reports indicate people are forming human chains around important infrastructure in Iran to protect them, as noted by Middle East correspondent Samar Hadrous.
On October 20, 2008, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, then Mayor of Tehran, visited the Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, major media sources confirm. In Hiroshima, Ghalibaf was shown a pocket watch that stopped at 8:15 am on August 6, 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped, killing 140,000 people. U.S. officials debriefed Japanese counterparts after Ghalibaf's visit and relayed details in two 'secret' and 'confidential' memos to the State Department, which were later published by WikiLeaks. According to U.S. intelligence memos, in private conversations with Japanese officials, Ghalibaf indicated openness to compromise on nuclear issues, differing marginally in tone from the Iranian regime. The memos state Ghalibaf parroted the regime line in the presence of another Iranian official but indicated a desire for dialogue when alone.
U.S. intelligence has been watching Ghalibaf for many years, major media reports indicate. Ghalibaf is the speaker of Iran's parliament and a major power player, according to multiple sources. The Trump administration is reportedly eyeing Ghalibaf as a possible U.S.-backed leader of Iran, and he is said to be the main go-between for the U.S. and Iran. On Monday, Trump hailed 'very good' talks with an unidentified Iranian official, which Iran denied, major media sources report. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denied any talks with the U.S. had taken place.
Ghalibaf was born in 1961 in Mashad, Khorosan, and has roots in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, major media sources confirm. He commanded the IRGC's 5th Nasr division during the Iran-Iraq war. Ghalibaf was mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017, during which accusations of corruption surfaced, and in 2013, as mayor, he ordered female secretaries and office managers in municipal offices replaced with men.
Ghalibaf lacks the sophistication of Ali Larijani and has an image as a strongman, according to major media sources. He has been posting taunting memes in English on X to counter Trump's posts, with one meme comparing U.S. 'No Kings' protests to Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution and another mocking damage to an American E-3 Sentry aircraft hit by an Iranian drone.
Iran threatened to 'set fire' to U.S. troops if they launch a ground invasion, Iranian officials stated. Trump claimed Iran 'has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again,' but Iran's foreign minister said the Strait would be open for the ceasefire period for ships coordinated by Iran. Ghalibaf claimed 7 million Iranians are ready to fight U.S. troops in a ground invasion, though this claim has not been confirmed by authorities, major media reports indicate. Iran's government is encouraging citizens to volunteer, including retired soldiers and children as young as 12.
Sky News reported Ghalibaf rejected Trump's claim of negotiations, with Ghalibaf stating no negotiations with America have taken place and calling such claims fake news intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and help the U.S. and Israel escape their quagmire. Trump claimed negotiations are ongoing with Iran to end the war that began on February 28 when Ali Khamenei was killed.
Ghalibaf is a former Revolutionary Guard commander and former police chief with a reputation for brutality, as major media reports note. Many Iranians regard him as a butcher for suppressing student protests in 1999, 2003, and 2009, and protestors nicknamed him the 'rooftop killer' after students were thrown from buildings.
Following Ali Larijani's death, Ghalibaf reportedly took on responsibility for strategic decisions in Iran, and he tried to become Iran's president in 2024, facing controversy after a luxury shopping trip, major media sources report.
Ghalibaf stated the attack on the Kesh desalination plant was carried out with the support of one of the air bases of the southern neighboring countries. He claimed American military bases in the region have become platforms for operations against Iran, and Tehran does not seek a truce in the war with the U.S. and Israel.
Power in Iran lies with the supreme leader, currently Mojtaba Khamenei, who is believed to be seriously injured but Iran insists is functioning, major media sources report. Ghalibaf cannot become Iran's de facto leader in the short term due to the political system.
The current health status and functional capacity of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remain unknown. Whether the Trump administration is actively pursuing Ghalibaf as a U.S.-backed leader and what specific actions have been taken are also unclear. The veracity of Ghalibaf's claim about 7 million volunteers remains unknown.
The identity of the Iranian official Trump claimed to have 'very good' talks with is unknown, as are the details and outcome of any private diplomatic communications beyond public denials.