Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, is becoming more prominent in Tehran

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is assuming a more prominent role as Israeli and U.S. strikes target the Islamic Republic’s political leadership, positioning him as a key figure during this pivotal time.

As the number of Iran’s most notable figures dwindles, the former Revolutionary Guards commander, who has served as Tehran’s mayor, national police chief, and presidential candidate, has emerged as a crucial link among the political, security, and clerical elites.

Almost three weeks following the abrupt attack on Iran that commenced with the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the authorities in Tehran are involved in a fierce struggle to endure against their attackers.

Qalibaf, often regarded as a protégé of Khamenei and a close associate of his son Mojtaba, who has ascended to the role of supreme leader, has emerged as a prominent advocate of resistance against Israel and the United States, pledging retribution for their assault.

In response to the killing of Khamenei, he addressed U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing “such devastating blows that you will be begging”.

“I address these two unscrupulous criminals and their accomplices: you have crossed our red line, and there will be consequences,” he stated in a televised address.

That passionate rhetoric illustrates his enduring role as a staunch supporter of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic governance, a position he has further evidenced by aiding in the suppression of internal dissent.

Despite his hardline profile, Qalibaf has cultivated a reputation as a moderniser and pragmatist. During his 2005 presidential campaign, he posed in his uniform as a qualified pilot for advertisements, enhancing his image as a professional.

A DANGEROUS CONSPIRACY

Born in the northeastern town of Torqabeh in 1961, Qalibaf’s formative years were influenced by the lectures he attended in mosques during his teenage years, as reported by Iranian media, coinciding with the rising momentum of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Following Iraq’s invasion of Iran, shortly after the ruling shah was deposed, he became a member of the Revolutionary Guards, a newly established military unit dedicated to supporting the country’s new Islamic system, and within three years, he ascended to the rank of general.

After the war concluded, he sought a career with the Guards, qualifying as a military pilot and ultimately rising to the position of head of the Guards’ air force unit.

During his time with the Guards, he participated in a violent suppression of university students in 1999 and, along with other commanders, signed a letter to the reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, warning of his removal if he failed to restrain protests.

Khamenei, facing rising dissatisfaction domestically and external pressure regarding Iran’s nuclear program, increasingly relied on security hardliners such as Qalibaf as the reformist movement lost momentum.

As police chief, he exhibited a ruthless side—commanding his forces to open fire on protesters in 2002—while simultaneously attempting to appeal to modernizers by upgrading the disheveled police with new uniforms.

However, during his presidential campaign in 2005, as he sought to connect with middle- and lower-income voters, his populist credentials were overshadowed by the fiery Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ultimately, Khamenei shifted his support from his preferred former general to the newcomer.

Qalibaf consistently pursued the presidency, making unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2024 and withdrawing from the 2017 race to prevent a division of the hardline vote.

He succeeded Ahmadinejad as the mayor of Tehran, serving in the role for 12 years and claiming responsibility for aiding in the suppression of months of unrest that shook the establishment following his predecessor’s controversial election victory in 2009.

After serving as mayor for 12 years, he returned to national politics when he was elected to parliament and appointed as speaker in 2020, securing one of the highest positions in Iranian politics.