According to information published in Politico, officials in the Trump administration have begun to consider Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as a potential candidate for the country's leadership.
Sources familiar with the situation report that some American officials view Ghalibaf as a potentially effective partner for negotiations with the U.S. However, as the sources clarified, Washington is not ready to commit to a specific individual.
“He is an attractive option. He is one of the most influential figures… But we must be cautious and not rush,” noted one of the interlocutors.
At the same time, the Financial Times reports that Pakistan is acting as the main mediator between the United States and Iran.
General Asim Munir, the chief of the Pakistani army, met with Donald Trump on Sunday. It was also revealed that there have been “behind-the-scenes negotiations” between senior Pakistani officials and Trump representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
According to Axios, the U.S. is considering plans to seize the Iranian island of Hark, which is a key oil export center, in order to exert pressure on Tehran and ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Friday, March 27, thousands of American Marines are expected to arrive in the Middle East, coinciding with the end of Trump’s ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Donald Trump stated that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened “very soon” if the U.S. and Iran can reach an agreement during negotiations.
According to the president, the strait “could be under joint control, perhaps even under the control of me and the ayatollah.”
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports, citing a senior Iranian official, that the issue of closing the Strait of Hormuz remains relevant due to the unpredictable position of the U.S.
The source emphasized that Washington continues to refuse to accept two key conditions from Tehran: payment of reparations and acknowledgment of aggression against Iran. An Iranian official stated that there has been a message exchange between Tehran and Washington through Egypt and Turkey aimed at reducing tensions.
American and Israeli security experts believe that control over the Strait of Hormuz and important energy facilities will be the final goal of the war with Iran, as reported by WP.
The resumption of operations in the strait is viewed as a top priority, unlike the overthrow of the regime in the Islamic Republic and the destruction of the nuclear program, which previously seemed more achievable. Weakening Iranian influence in the strait could allow Trump to declare victory and halt the escalating global energy crisis, sources note.
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