Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf
Background
AI-generatedMohammad Bagher Qalibaf is an Iranian conservative politician and former military commander who serves as Speaker of Iran's Parliament (Majlis).
Role
Qalibaf is the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Iran's parliament, a position that places him among the country's most senior political figures. He is also a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a former mayor of Tehran, giving him deep ties to both the security establishment and conservative political networks.
Background
Qalibaf rose through the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq war and later held senior posts in the Guard's air force and police leadership before entering elected politics. He served multiple terms as mayor of Tehran and ran unsuccessfully for president several times before being elected Speaker of Parliament, where he has positioned himself as a leading voice of Iran's conservative and principlist political camp.
Why they are in the news
Qalibaf's name has recurred in mid-2026 amid a period of acute crisis in Iran, including intensified US-Iran military exchanges, strikes inside Iranian territory, and disruption to shipping in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. This turmoil coincided with the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and uncertainty over succession, a period in which senior state institutions such as parliament and its leadership have drawn heightened attention as part of Iran's governing structure during wartime and leadership transition.
Background context generated by AI from public knowledge and recent Apprise coverage. Facts may lag current events — see the stories below for the latest.
In the news
▶ 50sUS airstrikes hit northern Iran as it disables ship trying to run the blockade
The United States has intensified its strikes targeting Iran, hitting targets further north
▶ 43sUS and Iran exchange intensifying fire across Mideast, threatening ceasefire deal
The United States has launched new airstrikes against Iran, and Tehran responded by targeting Gulf countries
▶ 46sNew attacks raise questions about what comes next in the Iran war
President Donald Trump says he believes the ceasefire with Iran is over
▶ 47sUS launches new airstrikes on Iran, with Tehran firing back at 3 Gulf Arab states
The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by hitting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war
▶ 1:00US launches new strikes on Iran, revokes oil sales permit after 3 ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military has attacked Iran after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz
▶ 1:06Khamenei's other sons appear at his funeral in Iran as new supreme leader remains in hiding
Iran’s top officials and brothers of the country’s new supreme leader have emerged into public view to attend the funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling confidence in their safety as Iran pushes back on U.S. demands in negotiations to permanently end the war
▶ 59sIran prepares for dayslong funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
Iran is preparing for the dayslong funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei