New Delhi, May 17: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has been appointed as his country’s special representative for China .The proposal to enlarge the role of Mr. Qalibaf was made by President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Tasnim new agency reported.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf recently held a marathon round of talks with the American Vice President in Islamabad in an effort to end the ongoing conflict. However, the negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, and the two sides could not reach a peace agreement.
The nature of Qalibaf’s new appointment and responsibilities differs significantly from the authority he exercised in his previous role. Unlike his earlier position, which provided him wider operational and political influence, his present assignment appears to be more focused on diplomatic engagement and consensus-building aimed at easing regional tensions and reviving negotiations between the two countries.
Iran’s to Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, had previously served as the president’s representative for China affairs, while late Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani had acted as “the Leader’s special representative for China affairs.”
He will “coordinate various sectors of relations between Iran and China,” it added. Security chief Ali Larijani, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on March 17, held a similar position.
Larijani oversaw the advancing of negotiations with China which led to a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021.
