US and Israeli officials insist Iran’s speaker is negotiating despite denials

Published March 25, 2026 7:00am ET



Officials in Israel and the United States claim Mohammad Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, is participating in constructive talks with the U.S., but he says negotiations have not even begun.

An unnamed source told the Jerusalem Post on Monday that Qalibaf has been leading discussions between the Trump administration and Tehran. Separately, an unidentified Israeli official told Axios that U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in contact with Qalibaf.

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