(SeaPRwire) – By: Julian Holbrooke
Washington just signed a landmark deal with Iran. But the man holding its fate is a hardliner who once threatened to burn American troops. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s latest warning—Tehran will ditch the deal if Trump doesn’t deliver—isn’t just posturing. It’s a window into the regime’s true playbook. Every US policy maker should be sweating right now.
On paper, the memorandum is a step toward peace. Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed it Wednesday to end war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The US promises to lift its naval blockade, coordinate a $300 billion reconstruction plan, and phase out sanctions over time. Iran vows not to develop nuclear weapons and to downblend enriched uranium under IAEA supervision. But the official text ignores a critical detail: Ghalibaf, the deal’s architect, is no moderate. He’s a 64-year-old IRGC veteran who rose through ranks during the Iran-Iraq War, later led police forces that crushed the 1999 student uprising, and built his career on loyalty to Iran’s security state.
The official line frames the 60-day negotiation period as a chance to resolve tough nuclear issues. But Ghalibaf’s warning, backed by IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani’s threat to target US assets beyond Hormuz, tells a different story. Iran experts say Ghalibaf is a “yes man”—he’ll follow orders to shake hands or escalate, whichever serves the regime. His presence at the signing is a propaganda win for Tehran, proof of its growing leverage. And history repeats: after the JCPOA, Iran built a missile arsenal and expanded terror proxies, despite US concessions. This deal could be just another tactical pause to rebuild power.
The geopolitical pendulum isn’t swinging toward peace. It’s swinging toward Iran’s hardliners, who now hold the keys to billions in relief without forcing real change. Washington isn’t negotiating with reformers—it’s cutting a deal with the same forces that have spent decades threatening the US and its allies. This isn’t a path to stability. It’s a gamble that will likely backfire, leaving the region more dangerous than before.
Author bio: Julian Holbrooke, an overseas international relations analyst contributing to major European dailies, specializes in Middle East geopolitics and US foreign policy strategy.