Why Iran’s choice of Beijing envoy signals an ‘unprecedented’ commitment

Prominent hardliner Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, is a veteran of peace talks with the US3-MIN READ3-MIN0ListenPublished: 5:35pm, 18 May 2026Iran has signalled “unprecedented” commitment to its ties with China by appointing a veteran of peace talks with the US as its emissary to Beijing, a move experts say also underscored China’s rise as a “third space” where Middle East powers could quietly negotiate.Tehran has made Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the country’s parliament, its special envoy to oversee the country’s relationship with China, according to a Sunday report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.His appointment was revealed only days after US President Donald Trump paid a state visit to Beijing, where the war in Iran was high on the agenda.01:01Trump says Xi offered help on Iran as China seeks to keep Hormuz open