Kayhan criticizes Ghalibaf's dual role in negotiations amid war

Kayhan: Kayhan is a hardline Iranian newspaper whose editor publicly challenges government decisions on negotiations and institutional roles. Its recent editorial argues that appointing the parliament speaker to lead talks has sidelined a central legislative body during wartime, calling for accountability from those who made the decision. The publication previously clashed with Ghalibaf over his support for diplomacy. Hossein Shariatmadari: Hossein Shariatmadari is the editor of Kayhan, a longtime hardline figure appointed by the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He wrote the column questioning whether Ghalibaf should hold both the speakership and chief negotiator positions, noting that parliament is responsible for oversight. Shariatmadari has a record of public disagreements with supporters of negotiations. Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf: Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf serves as speaker of Iran's parliament while also leading diplomatic negotiations with Washington. He has described the negotiating role as assigned by the country's governing institutions rather than volunteered for, and has defended diplomacy as a necessary tool of statecraft amid ongoing talks that began in Islamabad. His dual responsibilities have prompted questions about potential conflicts in overseeing the negotiating process. Role Conflict: The combination of parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator duties is viewed by critics as incompatible because parliament must oversee the negotiating team. Leadership Approval: Senior hardline lawmakers have stated that the parliament speaker's negotiating appointment was made with the Supreme Leader's opinion and coordination. Institutional Impact: Iran's parliament has largely suspended its normal work amid security conditions and the speaker's negotiating responsibilities following the outbreak of war.