‘Would Know In A Week If..’: Trump Says US Negotiating With Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf

Last Updated:March 31, 2026, 00:06 IST

The Trump administration has also been quietly weighing Qalibaf as a potential partner and even a future leader of Iran, Politico reported last week.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington has been engaging with Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as the United States explores diplomatic options to address the ongoing war with Iran.

Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said he would know “in about a week" whether Ghalibaf is someone the US can effectively work with.

“We’re gonna find out, I’ll let you know that in about a week," he told the news outlet.

The remarks followed Trump’s earlier comment that the US was speaking to “a top person" in Iran, but that he could not reveal who, adding: “I don’t want them to be killed." Trump had earlier described what he called a fundamental shift in Iran’s leadership, saying the previous leaders had been replaced by figures he found easier to engage.

“There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people," he said, adding they were “much more reasonable."

The Trump administration has also been quietly weighing Qalibaf as a potential partner and even a future leader of Iran, Politico reported last week.

As per the report citing two administration officials, Ghalibaf is viewed by some within the White House as a “workable partner" who could negotiate with the United States in the next phase of the conflict. “He’s a hot option," one official said, while cautioning that no final decisions have been made and multiple candidates are being evaluated.

Within sections of the administration, Ghalibaf is viewed as someone who could engage with Washington while maintaining credibility inside Iran’s power structure.

He is seen as a workable partner who could lead Iran and negotiate with the Trump administration in the war’s next phase, Politico reported.

“He’s one of the highest…But we got to test them, and we can’t rush into it."

However, the White House has sought to downplay speculation around specific individuals. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described such discussions as “sensitive diplomatic" matters that would not be conducted publicly.

Analysts remain cautious about the prospects. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group described Ghalibaf as a deeply embedded insider committed to Iran’s existing political order, suggesting that major concessions may be unlikely.

Ghalibaf, a 64-year-old political insider and former mayor of Tehran, has been a vocal critic of the United States and its allies. He has publicly rejected Trump’s claims of ongoing negotiations, calling them attempts to manipulate financial and oil markets.

Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high, with ongoing military exchanges and conflicting narratives around diplomatic engagement. While Trump has indicated that talks are progressing, Iranian officials continue to deny any direct negotiations with the United States.

News world ‘Would Know In A Week If..’: Trump Says US Negotiating With Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf

Read More