Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

Force in Play

Forced to resign as lead negotiator by IRGC hard-liners in late April 2026 amid internal power struggle over peace talks

Oil prices have fallen sharply. Brent touched $89.65 on November 10, its lowest since August 31, and traded near $92, about 23% below the October 30 peak near $118. President Trump said he would hold off on further strikes on Iran after appeals from regional countries, while keeping the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Updated Yesterday

Force in Play

Declared July 15 that Iran is in an 'essential and existential war with America,' that its armed forces have 'complete freedom of action,' and that the MOU no longer binds Iran; said Iran remained open to diplomacy alongside its defense posture

Iran said two oil tankers hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on November 8. A third vessel also burned, bringing the number of ships hit since the start of November to at least 12. The US military disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, and Iran's Revolutionary Guard later disabled navigation systems on four tankers using a route it considers unauthorized. Ship tracking put Hormuz traffic at about 5% of pre-war levels on November 10.

Updated Yesterday

Force in Play

Pressing Tehran's seven conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Nov 8 that three oil tankers it called "rogue" were hit by explosions and caught fire near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/11/8/iran-war-live-explosions-hit-qeshm-us-moves-to-block-land-supply-routes)). The claim was not independently verified, and it came as tanker attacks continued despite a US naval blockade and months of diplomacy.

Updated 3 days ago

Force in Play

Said November 3 the ball was in the US court and warned a US 'strategic error' would open a 'new battlefield'

The US struck an Iranian air-defense device on Qeshm Island on November 6, and President Donald Trump called the operation 'minor.' Iran said its air defenses destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over the island, while US Central Command described the situation as 'relatively calm.'

Updated 4 days ago

Force in Play

Announced $12 billion frozen-asset first tranche agreed on June 23; said talks prevented Lebanon bloodshed

Iran said on November 2 that it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days and restart nuclear talks, shortening a plan it had earlier said would take a week. The offer kept its conditions: the US must lift sanctions on Iranian oil, accept a ceasefire that covers Lebanon, and let ships use a route agreed with Oman under Iranian supervision.

Updated 6 days ago