'We're in the testing phase': Trump admin eyeing Iran’s parliament speaker as US-backed leader

The Trump administration is quietly weighing Iran’s parliament speaker as a potential partner — and even a future leader — as the president signals a shift from military pressure toward a negotiated endgame.

Mohammad ⁠Bagher Ghalibaf, the 64-year-old who has repeatedly threatened the U.S. and its allies with retaliation, is seen by at least some in the White House as a workable partner, who could lead Iran and negotiate with the Trump administration in the war’s next phase, according to two administration officials.

But the White House isn’t ready to commit to any one person, hoping to stress test multiple candidates as they look for someone willing to make a deal, said the two people, both granted anonymity to describe internal thinking.
“He’s a hot option,” one administration official said, cautioning that no decisions have been made. “He’s one of the highest…But we got to test them, and we can’t rush into it.”