Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said US President Donald Trump is trying to force Iran to “surrender” by applying economic pressure and exploiting internal divisions, according to remarks circulated by Iranian media outlets.
Ghalibaf, a key negotiator in ceasefire talks with the US and a strategic leader during the war, said Iran’s adversaries were trying to weaken the country from within through what he described as “siege tactics and media manipulation.”
He called on the public to maintain unity, arguing it is the main way to counter what he termed a new enemy “conspiracy.”
“Every divisive action is part of the enemy’s plan,” Ghalibaf said, adding that Iranian officials are “all followers of the supreme leader’s orders.”
He did not elaborate on the divisions. However, according to unofficial Iranian media outlets, a joint parliamentary statement signed on April 27 and backed by around 261 of 290 lawmakers expressed support for Iran’s negotiating team, including Ghalibaf.
The move was presented as a collective declaration of political support and unity rather than a formal parliamentary vote, local media outlets reported.
In recent days, there have been repeated calls for unity from various officials, including the president, members of parliament and Friday prayer imams, urging people to avoid criticizing one another.
