Iran’s Parliament Speaker Qalibaf Increasingly Central in Tehran

Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf speaks in parliament about Iran’s response to possible US attacks, in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 11, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a video. Photo: IRINN/via Reuters TV/Handout via REUTERS

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is taking a more central role as Israeli and US strikes pick off the Islamic Republic’s political leadership, making him a critical figure at a decisive moment.

With fewer of Iran’s most prominent figures remaining...