❓WHAT HAPPENED: Reports indicate that the Trump administration is engaging with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, as part of backchannel talks.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Discussions were confirmed on Monday as President Trump spoke to reporters before boarding Air Force One.
💬KEY QUOTE: “A top person,” President Trump said, declining to provide further clarity on the Iranian official.
🎯IMPACT: Backchannel talks reportedly paused U.S. plans to strike Iran’s power infrastructure, though Iran’s Foreign Ministry denies the claims.
The Trump administration’s mystery contact in Iran has been identified by reports as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the country’s parliamentary speaker, according to sources who have spoken to the Jerusalem Post newspaper.
Amichai Stein, with i24 news and the Jerusalem Post, added: “Advanced talks are underway to schedule a meeting this week between senior US and Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan.”
A source familiar with the details told @Jerusalem_Post: Advanced talks are underway to schedule a meeting this week between senior US and Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan.
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 23, 2026
This revelation follows President Donald Trump’s comments on Monday, where he suggested that the U.S. was engaging with a figure of significant authority inside Tehran.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump was asked about the U.S. negotiation team, involving special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and their Iranian counterpart. The president described the contact as “a top person” but refrained from providing additional details.
When questioned about Iran’s newly named supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump stated that the U.S. had not been in communication with him. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since his appointment and is believed to be injured and in hiding.
Trump added, “Don’t forget: We’ve wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two and largely phase three. But we’re dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader, you know it’s a little tough, they’ve wiped out — we’ve wiped out everybody.”
The Jerusalem Post later identified the senior Iranian figure involved in the talks as Ghalibaf. Trump confirmed via Truth Social that he had paused plans to strike Iran’s power infrastructure after what he described as “PRODUCTIVE” communication channels were opened with the Iranian official. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has denied these claims.
The discussions came amidst heightened tensions, with the U.S. issuing a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping route. In response, Iran threatened to “irreversibly destroy” critical infrastructure across the region, including water systems, should U.S. strikes occur.
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