Iran appoints chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf to oversee relations with China

Sunday 17 May 2026 - 11:15

Iran has appointed its senior political figure and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to oversee relations with China, according to reports from local media.

Ghalibaf, who currently serves as speaker of the Iranian Parliament and plays a key role in negotiations involving international powers, has reportedly been named special representative for Chinese affairs. His appointment was said to have been proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by the country’s highest political authority.

China remains Iran’s largest trading partner and the main buyer of its oil exports, making the relationship strategically and economically significant for Iran.

According to official sources, the new role will involve coordinating various dimensions of Iran–China relations, including economic cooperation, energy exports, and long-term strategic agreements between the two countries.

The position was previously held by senior political figures who oversaw the implementation of a 25-year cooperation agreement signed in 2021, aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between Tehran and Beijing.

Observers note that the appointment comes at a time of heightened regional and global geopolitical tensions, with Iran seeking to reinforce partnerships in Asia while continuing indirect negotiations with Western powers over security and nuclear-related issues.