The Trump administration is discreetly evaluating the current Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as a potential dialogue partner – and even a potential political leader in Tehran – as Donald Trump signals a shift in attitude, from forcing a military conflict resolution to finding a solution more through negotiations, Politico reports.
At the age of 64, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, although he has repeatedly threatened the USA and its allies, is nevertheless seen by some people at the White House as a “partner with whom one can work” and who might even be capable of leading Iran and negotiating with the Trump administration in the “second phase”, post-conflict, two White House officials anonymously told Politico.
However, the White House is not yet fully committed to choosing a single person at this time and is instead “testing” multiple candidates.
“But he is a significant option,” an American administration official said about Ghalibaf.
White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, said that “There are sensitive discussions at the diplomatic level, and the United States does not intend to conduct negotiations through the press.”
Details, HERE