Ghalibaf’s role in Iran’s new phase after February 2026 crisis

Following Ali Khamenei’s death and external strikes, Iran’s power structure shifts, elevating the Parliament speaker as a key political figure

In an Iran marked by deep internal tensions and a conflict that has reshaped its power balance, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Parliament, is increasingly emerging as a central figure in the country’s current political phase.

Analyses published by the Saudi newspaper Al Sharq Al Awsat and the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera describe a system of power that is no longer centralized, but fragmented and under significant pressure following U.S. and Israeli strikes that targeted the upper levels of Iran’s leadership, beginning with the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in late February 2026.

Within this context, Ghalibaf is identified as the main point of connection among political, military, and religious elites. His profile combines experience in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq war, senior roles in national security, more than a decade as mayor of Tehran, and, since 2020, the presidency of the Majlis, Iran’s parliament.

Considered close to the religious leadership, particularly to Mojtaba Khamenei, Ghalibaf has taken a strongly assertive public stance. In statements released through media and social platforms, he has threatened U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing them of crossing a “red line” and promising a harsh response to the attacks.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s power structure has evolved into a functional alliance. Mojtaba Khamenei is seen as ensuring symbolic continuity and religious legitimacy, formally maintaining control over strategic decisions, while operational authority appears to rest with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has shown the ability to adapt despite significant losses among its commanders.

At the same time, the government continues to manage day-to-day administration to prevent institutional collapse, while Ghalibaf is consolidating his position as the most visible and influential political figure.

The removal of figures considered mediators, such as Ali Larijani, has narrowed the space for more balanced positions, favoring leadership characterized by deterrence and mobilization rhetoric. In this environment, Ghalibaf has expanded his role, intervening on strategic issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and reinforcing a line of direct confrontation with the United States and Israel.

Roughly four weeks after the start of the military offensive, power in Iran appears to be distributed across three main centers: religious legitimacy represented by Mojtaba Khamenei, military strength held by the Revolutionary Guards, and political authority embodied by Ghalibaf, with the government focused on maintaining administrative stability.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)