Iran denies parliament speaker Ghalibaf quit negotiating team

An Iranian parliamentary official has rejected reports claiming that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had stepped down as head of Iran’s negotiating team, dismissing the allegations as false amid ongoing political speculation over internal divisions.

Iman Shamsaei, head of parliament’s communications and media office, said on May 20 that the reports were inaccurate and confirmed that Ghalibaf remains in his position, Iran International reports. 

Calling the claims “a complete lie,” Shamsaei said Ghalibaf still headed the negotiating team, pushing back against media reports suggesting a leadership change.

The clarification follows earlier reporting by several media outlets on April 24, which claimed that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament and head of the country’s negotiating team with the United States, had stepped down amid internal disagreements.

By Sabina Mammadli