Iran appoints Ghalibaf to oversee tiesappoints Ghalibaf to oversee ties with China
Iran has appointed Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to oversee relations with China, according to reports published on May 17. Ghalibaf has recently also served as a chief negotiator in talks with the United States, and the move highlights Tehran’s effort to deepen its channel to Beijing as regional and nuclear diplomacy continues.
Iranian Media
Iranian outlets present the appointment as a deliberate effort to strengthen ties with China and elevate the handling of a major bilateral relationship. They also note Ghalibaf’s role in talks with the United States as evidence that Tehran is using experienced political figures across multiple negotiating tracks.
Analysts
Analysts quoted in the coverage say the move shows China is becoming a quiet venue for sensitive discussions involving Middle East powers. They describe Beijing as a useful third space because it can host diplomacy without the public pressure attached to Western capitals.
- Tehran and Beijing signed a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021.
- Iran and China have a long trading relationship shaped by energy exports and sanctions pressure.
- China has often hosted talks that other capitals could not easily convene.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
