Iran parliament speaker Ghalibaf: 'We aren't seeking a ceasefire — aggressor must be punished'

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and a former top commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who is a key figure in the post-Khamenei succession landscape, posted in English on X: 'Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire. We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again.' Ghalibaf's statement is strategically significant for several reasons. First, it comes from a senior figure in the post-Khamenei political order — Ghalibaf is one of the most powerful IRGC-aligned politicians in Iran, having run for president multiple times and commanding significant loyalty from the Revolutionary Guards. Second, the deliberate use of English indicates the post is intended for international audiences — it is a direct message to Washington, Jerusalem, and Gulf capitals. Third, 'aggressor must be punished' is the language of retaliation — not de-escalation. It signals that Iran's political leadership, not just its military, is committed to continued strikes. Fourth, Ghalibaf explicitly frames Iran as the victim of aggression — consistent with Tehran's official narrative that the February 28 US-Israeli strike was unprovoked. The statement directly contradicts Trump administration suggestions that the war is 'nearly completed.'