{"id":591159,"date":"2026-04-24T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/?p=591159"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T13:30:00","slug":"speculation-persists-that-ghalibaf-replaced-with-more-hardline-figure-as-pentagon-says-iran-is-laying-more-mines-in-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/?p=591159","title":{"rendered":"Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More &#8216;Hardline&#8217; Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden\">Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More &#8216;Hardline&#8217; Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item\">\n<h2>Summary<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><b><i>Avalanche of Friday morning headlines speculating on Iran FM travel to Pakistan, and potential US delegating arriving too<\/i><\/b><i>, but much<b><i> <\/i><\/b>appears speculation.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><i><strong>Third US aircraft carrier, the George HW Bush, has finally arrived <\/strong>in Mideast regional waters after taking the long way around Africa.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><em>Hegseth in presser renews call, highlighting main issue, for Iran: <strong>&#8220;All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways<\/strong>&#8230;<strong>&#8220;<\/strong>; Warns Iranians over c<strong>ontinued mine-laying<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><em><strong>Iran FM unveils diplomatic tour which could include Islamabad\u00a0<\/strong>in order to prepare for 2nd round dialogue with Washington, as each side&#8217;s finger remains on the trigger.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure aria-label=\"Polymarket prediction market: US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?\" class=\"polymarket-embed\"><figcaption><strong>US x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?<\/strong><br \/>\nYes 49% \u00b7 No 52%<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/polymarket.com\/event\/us-x-iran-permanent-peace-deal-by\">View full market &amp; trade on Polymarket <\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>*\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/p>\n<h2>More Speculation on\u00a0Ghalibaf Resigning Negotiations Team<\/h2>\n<p>Tehran on Thursday rejected widespread reports that Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf as resigned from leadership of Iran&#8217;s negotiating team. But these reports have persisted into Friday, with Saudi-funded, London-based Iran International &#8216;newly&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iranintl.com\/en\/liveblog\/202604194357\">reporting<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, head of Iran\u2019s negotiating team with the United States, has stepped down amid internal disagreements, Iran International has learned.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>According to information obtained by Iran International, Ghalibaf was reprimanded for attempting to include the nuclear issue in talks with Washington and was forced to resign.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Hardline figure Saeed Jalili could replace him<\/strong>, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seeking to take over the negotiations.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And yet the fact remains that no talks are as yet scheduled, with regional media now saying Iran FM\u00a0Araghchi is about to tour different countries, including Oman and even will make a stop in Russia &#8211; and that this may include Islamabad. If so, reports say it could just be part of a preparatory phase to engage Washington directly again.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Breakthrough&#8217; on 2nd Round Pakistan Talks(?)<\/h2>\n<p>After signaling all day yesterday that it has not decided to engage the United States in a second round of peace talks, Friday morning has seen <strong>a flurry of headlines out of Saudi and regional media speculating that today is different<\/strong>. &#8220;Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi <strong>may arrive tonight<\/strong> accompanied by a small delegation,&#8221; Pakistani government source has told Al Arabiya&#8217;s correspondent.<\/p>\n<p>Also Bloomberg too is reporting that Iran&#8217;s FM Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight. Additionally sources out of Pakistan say the country may announce today the resumption of negotiations between Iran and America. Of course, we&#8217;ve seen many such &#8220;second round of US-Iran talks expected&#8221; headlines before which didn&#8217;t materialize, and at the moment there&#8217;s no signs of movement out of the US side.<\/p>\n<p><a data-image-external-href=\"\" data-image-href=\"\/s3\/files\/inline-images\/iranfmmaybe.jpg?itok=FGRLf5u6\" data-link-option=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/cms.zerohedge.com\/s3\/files\/inline-images\/iranfmmaybe.jpg?itok=FGRLf5u6\"><\/a><\/p>\n<figure role=\"group\" class=\"caption caption-img inline-images image-style-inline-images\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"d8ffc45a-b29e-4733-9454-ee2f378157b9\" data-responsive-image-style=\"inline_images\" height=\"292\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.zerohedge.com\/s3fs-public\/styles\/inline_image_mobile\/public\/inline-images\/iranfmmaybe.jpg?itok=FGRLf5u6\" width=\"500\" \/><figcaption><em>via Al Jazeera<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>However, some of these same sources and headlines are cautioning that it is unclear if there will be Washington engagement. But if a second round of talks actually materializes, it will lend credence to the recent White House insistence that Tehran&#8217;s private stance is much more compromising and conciliatory than its public stance. Latest:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>IRAN&#8217;S FOREIGN MINISTER ABBAS ARAGHCHI IS EXPECTED TO REACH ISLAMABAD AT AROUND 10 PM LOCAL TIME, ACCORDING TO AN IRANIAN SOURCE.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And Al Jazeera freshly reports on a flurry of phone calls, which suggests some kind of potential &#8220;breakthrough&#8221; in getting back to the negotiating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/liveblog\/2026\/4\/24\/iran-war-live-lebanon-truce-extended-trump-says-time-not-on-tehrans-side\">table<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>Government sources have confirmed there is a <strong>\u201chigh likelihood of a breakthrough\u201d in US-Iran talks<\/strong> in Islamabad, as a delegation led by Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in the Pakistani capital tonight. Earlier today, Iran\u2019s foreign minister held a telephone conversation with Pakistan\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, confirmed by both sides.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Pakistan\u2019s Foreign Ministry said the two sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the context of US-Iran engagement. Dar underscored the importance of sustained dialogue, while Araghchi appreciated Pakistan\u2019s \u201cconsistent and constructive facilitation role\u201d, the ministry said.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Iran\u2019s state news agency IRNA also reported that Araghchi held a separate telephone conversation with Pakistan\u2019s Army chief Asim Munir.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Third US Carrier Finally Arrives in Region<\/h2>\n<p>US Central Command (CENTCOM) is flashing the big stick, as there are now three US aircraft carrier groups total in the region. Some pundits have speculated that the whole Islamabad second round talks <strong>back-and-forth has just been a delay tactic for each side to regroup, replenish missiles, and position forces in the region<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>After all, Israel&#8217;s defense ministry on Thursday stated bluntly it is preparing for a new round of warfare with Iran, and Iranian forces too say they are ready for anything that comes, and have continued to preview that America&#8217;s Gulf allies would also face renewed attack for hosting US forces.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\" xml:lang=\"en\">For the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East at the same time. Accompanied by their carrier air wings, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) include over 200 aircraft and 15,000\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fbMdz1IYn8\">pic.twitter.com\/fbMdz1IYn8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CENTCOM\/status\/2047617427211436132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>More Geopolitical Overnight &amp; Latest<\/h2>\n<p>According to more of some of the latest from <em>Al Jazeera<\/em>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>US President Donald Trump says he hopes to host Israeli and Lebanese leaders \u201cin the near future\u201d, after announcing a three-week extension to the fragile\u00a0ceasefire in Lebanon, which was due to expire on Sunday.<\/li>\n<li>President Trump said he is under no pressure to end his war with Iran, though\u00a0time is limited for Tehran. \u201cI have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn\u2019t \u2013 The clock is ticking!\u201d Trump wrote on social media.<\/li>\n<li>A third US aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East. The USS George HW Bush joined the USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln in a\u00a0massive buildup of naval firepower.<\/li>\n<li>Trump gives orders to\u00a0\u201cshoot and kill\u201d\u00a0any Iranian boats placing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as the US naval siege of Iran\u2019s ports continues, and officials in Tehran say talks will not resume until the blockade is lifted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And via <em>Newsquawk<\/em>:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Iran Foreign Minister to Visit Islamabad Friday, Pakistan Says;\u00a0Oil Dips After Pakistan Says US-Iran Peace Talks Are Expected: BBG<\/li>\n<li>US President Trump posted that the meeting between Israel and Lebanon went well, the US is to work with Lebanon to protect itself from Hezbollah and that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is to be extended by three weeks: RTRS<\/li>\n<li>Israeli media: A limited operation against Iran may be carried out to avoid a prolonged war: Al Arabiya\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>An Iranian Ship Tried to Slip Past the Blockade. A U.S. Destroyer Chased It Down: WSJ<\/li>\n<li>Tanker Helga arrives at Iraq\u2019s Basra offshore terminal to load 2mln BPD of crude, sources say; Helga is the second tanker to reach Basra terminals since the Hormuz closure.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. Soldier Charged With Using Classified Information to Bet on Maduro\u2019s Ouster: WSJ<\/li>\n<li>Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from NATO, other steps over Iran rift: RTRS<\/li>\n<li>China to Curb US Investment in Tech Companies After Meta Deal: BBG<\/li>\n<li>Intel Shares Set to Eclipse Dot-Com Peak on Sales Forecast<\/li>\n<li>Conservative super PAC threatens to unseat Republicans over immigration bill: RTRS<\/li>\n<li>Hedge Fund at Center of Avis Squeeze Added to Stake Before Rout: BBG<\/li>\n<li>Citadel Sends Warning Shot to NYC After Mamdani Jabs Griffin: WSJ<\/li>\n<li>Meta Signs Multibillion-Dollar Deal With Amazon to Use Its CPU Chips for AI: WSJ<\/li>\n<li>Lilly\u2019s New Obesity Pill Off to Slow Start in Race With Novo: BBG<\/li>\n<li>Oracle\u2019s Deluge of AI Debt Pushes Wall Street to the Limit: WSJ<\/li>\n<li>Orban\u2019s Son-in-Law Waits Out Hungarian Wealth Probe in New York: BBG<\/li>\n<li>Chinese Securities Regulator said that China is to allow qualified foreign investors to trade treasury futures from April 24, 2026, for hedging purposes only.<\/li>\n<li>US official said Russia is to be included in G20 summit invitations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>* * *<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a data-image-external-href=\"https:\/\/store.zerohedge.com\/products\/multi-function-survival-flashlight?\" data-image-href=\"https:\/\/store.zerohedge.com\/products\/multi-function-survival-flashlight?\" data-link-option=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/store.zerohedge.com\/products\/multi-function-survival-flashlight?\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"b0bb4753-9a62-472f-b042-991e33b8a141\" data-responsive-image-style=\"inline_images\" height=\"182\" width=\"500\" class=\"inline-images image-style-inline-images\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.zerohedge.com\/s3fs-public\/styles\/inline_image_mobile\/public\/inline-images\/flashlight%202_5.jpg?itok=DsLWJ0Us\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>      <span class=\"field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden\"><a title=\"View user profile.\" href=\"https:\/\/cms.zerohedge.com\/users\/tyler-durden\" lang=\"\" class=\"username\" xml:lang=\"\">Tyler Durden<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span class=\"field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden\">Fri, 04\/24\/2026 &#8211; 09:30<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.zerohedge.com\/s3fs-public\/styles\/inline_image_mobile\/public\/inline-images\/iranfmmaybe.jpg?itok=FGRLf5u6\" title=\"Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More 'Hardline' Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz\" \/><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More &#8216;Hardline&#8217; Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz Summary Avalanche of Friday morning headlines speculating on Iran FM travel to Pakistan, and potential US delegating arriving too, but much appears speculation. Third US aircraft carrier, the George HW Bush, has finally arrived in Mideast&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/?p=591159\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Speculation Persists That Ghalibaf Replaced With More &#8216;Hardline&#8217; Figure As Pentagon Says Iran Is Laying More Mines In Hormuz<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":591160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,22,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-591159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-border-security","category-immigration","category-immigration-reform","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=591159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/591160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=591159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=591159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buglecall.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=591159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}