White House eyes Iran’s parliament speaker Ghalibaf as potential US-backed leader: Report

Ghalibaf is seen by ‌at ⁠least some in the White ‌House ‌as a workable ‌partner ‌who could lead Iran and negotiate ⁠with ⁠the Trump administration, the report said.

The Trump administration is weighing ⁠Iran's parliament ⁠speaker, Mohammad ‌Bagher Ghalibaf, as ​a potential partner, Politico reported on Monday citing two ⁠administration ‌officials.

Additionally, they are considering Ghalibaf as ​a future ⁠leader, the report read.

Ghalibaf is seen by ‌at ⁠least some in the White ‌House ‌as a workable ‌partner ‌who could lead Iran and negotiate ⁠with ⁠the Trump administration in the war's next phase, the report ​said.

Politico, quoting a senior White House official, further said Trump is interested in pursuing a peace deal with Iran this week because he’s looking for “progress” in the Strait of Hormuz and a ceasefire.

“POTUS, like anyone, would rather have peace than war,” the senior official added.

Ghalibaf on Monday took to social media in addressing claims on Iran-US dialogue, saying, "No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped."

Earlier on Monday, US President Donald Trump said that there have been talks between the United States and Iran in which the two sides had "major points of agreement".

Adding that a deal could be soon reached to settle the war, Trump said, "All I'm saying is, we are in the throes of a real possibility of making a deal."

However, Iranian media has denied Trump's claim of negotiations between Iran and the US. Citing a statement by Iran's foreign ministry, the Mehr news agency said, "There are no talks between Tehran and Washington."

It also said that the US president's claims were part of an action 'to reduce energy prices'.