Iran's parliament and Revolutionary Guard have issued sharp warnings to the United States, threatening retaliatory attacks if the U.S. acts against Iran. Inhabitants in Iran have demonstrated against Israeli and U.S. attacks on the country, with reports indicating people are forming human chains around important infrastructure to protect them, reflecting widespread domestic mobilization amid the crisis.
At the center of Iran's political landscape is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament and a major power player. Ghalibaf is a former Revolutionary Guard commander and former police chief with a reputation for extreme brutality. Many Iranians regard Ghalibaf as a butcher for his role in suppressing student protests in 1999, 2003, and 2009, highlighting his controversial legacy.
I will spare no effort in helping to create a world without nuclear weapons. Promoting dialogue...is an essential step.
This reputation is bolstered by a leaked audio tape in which Ghalibaf bragged about beating protestors with wooden sticks and being proud of it. In the same tape, he boasted that he secured government permission to have security forces enter a campus and shoot at students. Protestors nicknamed Ghalibaf the 'rooftop killer' after students were thrown from building tops during those crackdowns, underscoring the violent methods he has employed.
Despite his hardline domestic record, the Trump administration is reportedly eyeing Ghalibaf as a possible U.S.-backed leader of Iran. However, Ghalibaf denied Trump's claim that the U.S. had opened negotiations with Iran, calling it fake news to manipulate markets. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also denied any negotiations with the U.S. had taken place, revealing a contradictory stance between Ghalibaf's private and public positions on U.S. relations.
Iran will cut off every finger that is raised against Iran's people.
Power in Iran formally lies with the supreme leader, and Mojtaba Khamenei has been selected to that role. Khamenei has not been seen since his election and is believed to be seriously injured, but Iran insists he is functioning normally. Meanwhile, more than 92 million people in Iran have been cut off from the internet for over 30 days under a nationwide blackout, raising questions about leadership stability and information control.
In the propaganda sphere, Ghalibaf has been posting taunting memes in English on X to counter Trump's posts on the war. Pro-Iran accounts share AI videos mocking Netanyahu and Trump as weak, and Iran shared a video depicting Trump and Netanyahu as Lego figurines, illustrating the use of social media and technology in the information war.
They're playing 6D chess again!
The military situation continues to escalate, with the Pentagon awaiting Trump's approval for weeks of ground operations in Iran, according to the Washington Post. Thousands of U.S. sailors and marines moved to the Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli as part of this buildup. Yemen's Houthis launched a second attack on Israel less than 24 hours after the first, signaling a rapid expansion of regional conflict.
The economic and diplomatic fallout is significant, with the EU warning ships to avoid Yemeni waters due to potential Houthi attacks. Oil prices are on track for a record monthly surge amid the conflict, and Pakistan hosted talks with regional powers to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting efforts to mitigate disruptions to global trade.
Iran is 'waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them ablaze.'
Iran is mobilizing its population for potential conflict, though the claim of 7 million volunteers has not been confirmed by authorities. State media and text campaigns encourage volunteering, and the government asked retired soldiers to come forward to fight. The Revolutionary Guard's Basij force is reportedly accepting recruits as young as 12, indicating a broad recruitment drive amid the tensions.
Internationally, 18 European countries urged Israel and Hezbollah to stop fighting. Sky News halted live coverage for an update after Ghalibaf rejected Trump's claim of negotiations, showing how media outlets are reacting to developments in the crisis.
The enemy signals negotiation in public but plots a ground attack in secret.
According to intelligence in memos, Ghalibaf, in private conversations with Japanese officials, parted ways with the Iranian regime on the nuclear issue, indicating openness to compromise, though the difference was described as 'marginal.' In the presence of another Iranian official, Ghalibaf parroted the regime line without conviction, but when alone, he indicated a desire for dialogue, suggesting a nuanced private stance.
Ghalibaf is reportedly the main go-between for the U.S. and Iran. Trump hailed 'very good' talks with an unidentified Iranian official, which Iran has consistently denied, adding to the confusion over diplomatic channels.
Iran's missiles are in place and determination has increased.
Politically, Ghalibaf took on responsibility for making strategic decisions after the death of Ali Larijani, becoming highly influential within Iran's power structure. However, Ghalibaf cannot become Iran's de facto leader in the short term due to political and religious constraints, limiting his immediate rise despite his growing role.
Iran will 'punish their regional partners forever.'
'Seven million people' are prepared to fight U.S. troops in a ground invasion.
Iran is 'definitely not looking for ceasefire' and the aggressor must be taught a lesson.
We believe that the aggressor should be punched in the mouth so that he learns a lesson.
Israel sees a cycle of 'war-negotiation-ceasefire' to consolidate dominance, and Iran will break this cycle.
If you fight, we will fight. And if you act logically, we will act logically.
Trump's threats about blocking the Strait of Hormuz and 'blowing up all Iranians' who attack U.S. vessels affect them.
Negotiations have had progress.
Countries hosting American bases in the region 'will not enjoy peace'.
The attack on the Khesm desalination plant 'was carried out with the support of one of the air bases of the southern neighboring countries'.
This blatant crime will receive a proportionate response. American military bases in the region have become platforms for operations against Iran.
The origin of any attack is the destination of our response.
Tehran does not seek a truce in the war with the U.S. and Israel.
The 'attackers' must be punished.
If the enemy attacks from any country, Tehran will respond decisively.