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Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More 'Hardline' Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz

Tyler Durden's Photo
by Tyler Durden
Authored...

Summary

  • Avalanche of Friday morning headlines speculating on Iran FM travel to Pakistan, and potential US delegating arriving too, but much appears speculation.

  • Third US aircraft carrier, the George HW Bush, has finally arrived in Mideast regional waters after taking the long way around Africa.

  • Hegseth in presser renews call, highlighting main issue, for Iran: "All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways..."; Warns Iranians over continued mine-laying.

  • Iran FM unveils diplomatic tour which could include Islamabad in order to prepare for 2nd round dialogue with Washington, as each side's finger remains on the trigger. No talks with US during the new Pakistan visit.

US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?
Yes 49% · No 52%
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More Speculation on Ghalibaf Resigning Negotiations Team

Tehran on Thursday rejected widespread reports that Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf as resigned from leadership of Iran's negotiating team. But these reports have persisted into Friday, with Saudi-funded, London-based Iran International 'newly' reporting:

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, head of Iran’s negotiating team with the United States, has stepped down amid internal disagreements, Iran International has learned.

According to information obtained by Iran International, Ghalibaf was reprimanded for attempting to include the nuclear issue in talks with Washington and was forced to resign.

Hardline figure Saeed Jalili could replace him, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seeking to take over the negotiations.

And yet the fact remains that no talks are as yet scheduled, with regional media now saying Iran FM Araghchi is about to tour different countries, including Oman and even will make a stop in Russia - and that this may include Islamabad. If so, reports say it could just be part of a preparatory phase to engage Washington directly again. Latest via AJ: "No Iran-US talks to take place during FM Abbas Araghchi's visit to Pakistan, only bilateral engagement," citing senior Iranian source.

Hegseth Presser: Mine-Laying, Nuclear Sticking Point

A key line from the Pentagon chief on Friday morning: "All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways, or instead they can watch the regime's fragile economic state collapse under the unrelenting pressure of American power, a blockade as long as it takes, whatever President Trump decides," Hegseth said. He added that with the blockade continuing, "the clock is not on their side."

On this, Hegseth reiterated, "President Trump said it again yesterday. We have all the time in the world, and we're not anxious for a deal." And yet, he actually again made comparison to America's forever wars in the region:

Still, Hegseth opened his remarks to reporters decrying what he called the "endless wars of the past that dragged on for years and for decades," and he sought to draw distinctions between the conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, the defense secretary argued that Operation Epic Fury has delivered a "decisive military result" in weeks, with a focus on the mission of keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The defense secretary said the mission is continuing into a new phase, and Iran now has the opportunity to make a peace deal. "Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal. A good deal. A wise deal," he said.

He further referenced yesterday's reports that Iran is still engaged in mine-laying activity in the Strait of Hormuz, and warned: "If Iran is putting mines in the water, or otherwise threatening American commercial shipping or American forces, we will shoot to destroy. No hesitation," he said.

Inadvertent admission of the leveling power of asymmetric warfare & geographic advantage: "Any one with a speedboat and a gun..."

'Breakthrough' on 2nd Round Pakistan Talks(?)

After signaling all day yesterday that it has not decided to engage the United States in a second round of peace talks, Friday morning has seen a flurry of headlines out of Saudi and regional media speculating that today is different. "Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi may arrive tonight accompanied by a small delegation," Pakistani government source has told Al Arabiya's correspondent.

Also Bloomberg too is reporting that Iran's FM Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight. Additionally sources out of Pakistan say the country may announce today the resumption of negotiations between Iran and America. Of course, we've seen many such "second round of US-Iran talks expected" headlines before which didn't materialize, and at the moment there's no signs of movement out of the US side.

via Al Jazeera

However, some of these same sources and headlines are cautioning that it is unclear if there will be Washington engagement. But if a second round of talks actually materializes, it will lend credence to the recent White House insistence that Tehran's private stance is much more compromising and conciliatory than its public stance. Latest:

IRAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAGHCHI IS EXPECTED TO REACH ISLAMABAD AT AROUND 10 PM LOCAL TIME, ACCORDING TO AN IRANIAN SOURCE.

And Al Jazeera freshly reports on a flurry of phone calls, which suggests some kind of potential "breakthrough" in getting back to the negotiating table:

Government sources have confirmed there is a “high likelihood of a breakthrough” in US-Iran talks in Islamabad, as a delegation led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in the Pakistani capital tonight. Earlier today, Iran’s foreign minister held a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, confirmed by both sides.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the context of US-Iran engagement. Dar underscored the importance of sustained dialogue, while Araghchi appreciated Pakistan’s “consistent and constructive facilitation role”, the ministry said.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA also reported that Araghchi held a separate telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir.

Third US Carrier Finally Arrives in Region

US Central Command (CENTCOM) is flashing the big stick, as there are now three US aircraft carrier groups total in the region. Some pundits have speculated that the whole Islamabad second round talks back-and-forth has just been a delay tactic for each side to regroup, replenish missiles, and position forces in the region.

After all, Israel's defense ministry on Thursday stated bluntly it is preparing for a new round of warfare with Iran, and Iranian forces too say they are ready for anything that comes, and have continued to preview that America's Gulf allies would also face renewed attack for hosting US forces.

More Geopolitical Overnight & Latest

According to more of some of the latest from Al Jazeera:

  • US President Donald Trump says he hopes to host Israeli and Lebanese leaders “in the near future”, after announcing a three-week extension to the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, which was due to expire on Sunday.
  • President Trump said he is under no pressure to end his war with Iran, though time is limited for Tehran. “I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t – The clock is ticking!” Trump wrote on social media.
  • A third US aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East. The USS George HW Bush joined the USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln in a massive buildup of naval firepower.
  • Trump gives orders to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boats placing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as the US naval siege of Iran’s ports continues, and officials in Tehran say talks will not resume until the blockade is lifted.

And via Newsquawk: 

  • Iran Foreign Minister to Visit Islamabad Friday, Pakistan Says; Oil Dips After Pakistan Says US-Iran Peace Talks Are Expected: BBG
  • US President Trump posted that the meeting between Israel and Lebanon went well, the US is to work with Lebanon to protect itself from Hezbollah and that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is to be extended by three weeks: RTRS
  • Israeli media: A limited operation against Iran may be carried out to avoid a prolonged war: Al Arabiya 
  • An Iranian Ship Tried to Slip Past the Blockade. A U.S. Destroyer Chased It Down: WSJ
  • Tanker Helga arrives at Iraq’s Basra offshore terminal to load 2mln BPD of crude, sources say; Helga is the second tanker to reach Basra terminals since the Hormuz closure.
  • U.S. Soldier Charged With Using Classified Information to Bet on Maduro’s Ouster: WSJ
  • Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift: RTRS
  • China to Curb US Investment in Tech Companies After Meta Deal: BBG
  • Intel Shares Set to Eclipse Dot-Com Peak on Sales Forecast
  • Conservative super PAC threatens to unseat Republicans over immigration bill: RTRS
  • Hedge Fund at Center of Avis Squeeze Added to Stake Before Rout: BBG
  • Citadel Sends Warning Shot to NYC After Mamdani Jabs Griffin: WSJ
  • Meta Signs Multibillion-Dollar Deal With Amazon to Use Its CPU Chips for AI: WSJ
  • Lilly’s New Obesity Pill Off to Slow Start in Race With Novo: BBG
  • Oracle’s Deluge of AI Debt Pushes Wall Street to the Limit: WSJ
  • Orban’s Son-in-Law Waits Out Hungarian Wealth Probe in New York: BBG
  • Chinese Securities Regulator said that China is to allow qualified foreign investors to trade treasury futures from April 24, 2026, for hedging purposes only.
  • US official said Russia is to be included in G20 summit invitations

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