Full History Of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf In Timeline From 1961

1 hour ago : Ghalibaf's political ambitions surface amidst rising tensions and potential conflict scenarios in Iran.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is vying for a prominent position as Iran asserts its readiness to counter aggression. Escalating tensions and potential conflict scenarios influence Iranian leadership dynamics and military posture, with Trump considering options.

August 1961: Birth of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

In August 1961, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was born.

Others born on this day/year

1980: Military Career Begins

In 1980, Ghalibaf began his military career during the Iran–Iraq War.

1982: Chief Commander of IRGC Imam Reza Brigade

In 1982, Ghalibaf became the chief commander of the IRGC Imam Reza Brigade.

1982: Ghalibaf marries Zahra Sadat Moshir

In 1982, Ghalibaf married Zahra Sadat Moshir, who was born in 1968, when he was 21 years old.

1983: Commander of IRGC 5th Nasr Division

From 1983 to 1984, Ghalibaf was the chief commander of the IRGC 5th Nasr Division.

1984: Continued Leadership of IRGC 5th Nasr Division

Ghalibaf continued to serve as the chief commander of the IRGC 5th Nasr Division throughout 1984.

1994: Head of Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters

From 1994 through 1997, Ghalibaf was head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, the engineering arm of the IRGC.

1994: Managing Director of Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters

In 1994, Ghalibaf became the Managing Director of Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, an engineering firm controlled by the IRGC.

1996: Received Title of Major General

In 1996, Ghalibaf received the title of Major General in the IRGC, after completing a master's degree in geopolitics.

1997: Commander of IRGC Air Force

From 1997 to 2000, Ghalibaf was the commander of the IRGC Air Force.

1997: Railway Project Launched

In 1997, under Ghalibaf's management, the Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters launched a railway connecting Mashhad to Sarakhs.

July 1999: Ghalibaf Signs Threatening Letter During Student Protests

During the July 1999 student protests, Ghalibaf, as commander of the IRGC Air Force, signed a threatening letter to President Khatami, indicating military intervention if the government did not suppress the student movement.

1999: Threatening Letter to President Khatami

As Commander of the IRGC Air Force in 1999, Ghalibaf was among the IRGC commanders who sent a threatening letter to President Mohammad Khatami during the pro-democracy student protests, suggesting they would take action if the protests were not suppressed.

1999: Appointed Chief of Police Command

Following the 1999 protests, Ghalibaf was appointed Chief of the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran and initiated reforms such as dropping lawsuits against newspapers and modernizing police equipment.

2000: Chief of Police Command

From 2000 to 2005, Ghalibaf was the chief of the Police Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran, marked by accusations of suppressing protestors and arresting intellectuals.

2000: End of Tenure as Commander of Aerospace Force

In 2000, Ghalibaf's tenure as Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ended.

October 2002: Announcement of Moral Security Plan

In October 2002, Ghalibaf announced that he would present the moral security plan, emphasizing the enforcement of its requirements against violators.

2002: Summoning and Detention of Intellectuals and Journalists

In 2002 and 2004, during Ghalibaf's tenure as Chief of Police, dozens of intellectuals, journalists, political activists, and bloggers were summoned, interrogated, or temporarily detained, leading to protests from the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Writers' Association of Iran.

2002: Comments on Siamak Pourzand's Arrest

In 2002, Ghalibaf commented on Siamak Pourzand’s arrest, claiming that Pourzand engaged in anti-cultural activities and supplied information to Reza Pahlavi.

2003: Statements During Student Protests

During the 2003 Iranian student protests, Ghalibaf reportedly made statements about using force against students, including using gas to "finish the job" and threatening to "crush" anyone who entered the dormitory.

2003: Alleged Intent to Suppress Students

During the 2013 presidential election debates, Hassan Rouhani revealed that Ghalibaf stated in 2003, "Students should come so we can use gas to finish the job," indicating an intent to suppress student protests.

2003: Ghalibaf Involved in Crackdown on Student Demonstrations

In 2003, as Chief of the National Police, Ghalibaf was involved in the crackdown on renewed student demonstrations at Tehran University.

2004: Summoning and Detention of Intellectuals and Journalists

In 2002 and 2004, during Ghalibaf's tenure as Chief of Police, dozens of intellectuals, journalists, political activists, and bloggers were summoned, interrogated, or temporarily detained, leading to protests from the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and the Writers' Association of Iran.

2004: Comments on Moral Security

In 2004, Ghalibaf commented on moral security, stating that the political significance of improper hijab may outweigh its moral significance, and emphasized the need for a clear distinction between proper and improper hijab based on regulations.

April 2005: Resignation from Military Positions

In April 2005, Ghalibaf resigned from his military positions, including his role in the police forces, due to his intention to run for the presidency of Iran.

September 2005: Elected Mayor of Tehran

On September 4, 2005, Ghalibaf was elected as the Mayor of Tehran, succeeding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

2005: Ghalibaf Runs for President

In 2005, Ghalibaf was a candidate in the Iranian presidential election, ultimately coming in fourth place.

2005: Elected Mayor of Tehran

In 2005, Ghalibaf was elected mayor of Tehran by the Islamic City Council of Tehran, a position he held until 2017.

2007: Re-elected as Mayor of Tehran

In 2007, Ghalibaf was reelected for a second term as Mayor of Tehran.

October 2008: Ghalibaf Supports Dialogue with the United States

On 13 October 2008, Ghalibaf announced his support for dialogue with the United States as suggested by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

2009: Ghalibaf's Administration Supports Crackdown on Green Movement Protests

As Mayor of Tehran during the 2009 Green Movement Iranian presidential election protests , Ghalibaf's administration supported the security crackdown.

2009: Ghalibaf Does Not Run for Presidency

Ghalibaf did not run for presidency in the elections in 2009.

July 2012: Ghalibaf Officially Announces Presidential Candidacy

On 16 July 2012, Ghalibaf officially announced his participation in the presidential elections.

May 2013: Threats to Use Force at Universities

In May 2013, an audio recording revealed Ghalibaf threatening to allow law enforcement forces to enter universities and use force, stating he would "crush" anyone who came to the dormitory.

May 2013: Ghalibaf's Candidacy Approved by Guardian Council

On 21 May 2013, Ghalibaf's candidacy for the presidential election was approved by the Guardian Council along with seven other candidates.

June 2013: Ghalibaf to Participate in the Presidential Elections

In June 2013, Ghalibaf's advisor announced that he would take part in the presidential elections.

September 2013: Re-elected as Mayor of Tehran

On September 8, 2013, Ghalibaf was elected as Mayor of Tehran for another term, defeating Hashemi in a runoff with 51.6% of the votes.

2013: Presidential Election Debate

During the 2013 presidential election debates, Ghalibaf's intent to suppress student protests in 2003 was revealed by Hassan Rouhani.

2013: Ghalibaf Concedes 2013 Presidential Election

In 2013, Ghalibaf received 6,077,292 votes (16.55%) in the Iranian presidential election, placing second behind Hassan Rouhani. Following the announcement of the results in 2013, Ghalibaf published a statement congratulating Rouhani on his election as President of Iran and conceding the election.

2013: Ghalibaf Admits to Street Violence

In a leaked 2013 audio recording, Ghalibaf admitted to personally participating in street-level violence, including beating protesters with wooden sticks.

2013: Ghalibaf Boasts of Using Gunfire Against Protesters

In the same 2013 leaked recording, Ghalibaf boasted of bypassing Supreme National Security Council protocols to order the use of gunfire against protesters in 2003.

2014: Alleged Widespread Violations by Tehran Municipality

In 2014, the report outlines several widespread violations by the Tehran Municipality, including the payment of 60 billion tomans in aid and the granting of land to the Imam Reza Charity owned by Ghalibaf’s wife, as well as 47 secret bank accounts.

March 2016: Failed Investigation of Tehran Municipality

On March 16, 2016, some members of parliament initiated a plan to investigate the Tehran Municipality, but they failed to secure the necessary votes, and Ghalibaf thanked the parliamentarians for rejecting the investigation.

September 2016: Report on Municipal Property Transfers

In September 2016, a report in Shargh newspaper and later on the Memari News website revealed the transfer of municipal properties to city managers at discounted prices, leading to the imprisonment of the Memari News website editor after being sued by Ghalibaf.

2016: Planned Investigation into Tehran Municipality Halted

In 2016, an investigation was planned to examine the performance of the Tehran Municipality during Ghalibaf’s tenure as mayor. However, the investigation was halted due to a vote of opposition from parliament members. A bribe of 65 billion tomans was allegedly used to stop the investigation.

January 2017: Plasco Building Fire and Collapse

In January 2017, the Plasco Building in Tehran collapsed after a massive fire, resulting in firefighter fatalities and widespread criticism of the Tehran Municipality under Ghalibaf's leadership for alleged negligence and mismanagement of the crisis.

January 2017: Allegations of Contract Misuse

On January 15, 2017, Mohammad Ali Najafi stated that Ghalibaf signed two contracts worth 1.43 billion tomans, but only a fraction of the funds were properly used by the company, with the rest allegedly used for election purposes.

April 2017: Ghalibaf begins third presidential campaign

On April 15, 2017, Ghalibaf began his third presidential campaign for the Iranian presidency.

May 2017: Ghalibaf withdraws from presidential campaign

On May 15, 2017, Ghalibaf withdrew from the presidential campaign.

2017: Member of Expediency Discernment Council

From 2017 to 2020, Ghalibaf was a member of the Expediency Discernment Council of the System.

2017: Yas Holding Company Scandal

In 2017, a scandal involving the Yas Holding Company, accused of embezzling funds from Tehran Municipality for overpriced infrastructure projects during Ghalibaf's mayorship, took place.

2017: Presidential Campaign Comments

In 2017, during his presidential campaign, Ghalibaf criticized a former minister for traveling to Italy to purchase baby clothes.

July 2020: Investigation into Tehran Municipality performance revealed

In July 2020, Mostafa Mir-Salim revealed a planned 2016 investigation into the Tehran Municipality's performance during Ghalibaf's mayorship, which was halted due to opposition in parliament, allegedly due to a 65 billion tomans bribe.

2020: Elected as Speaker of Parliament

In 2020, Ghalibaf was elected as the Speaker of the Parliament of Iran after the conservative Iranian Principlists regained the majority in the legislature.

2020: End of Expediency Discernment Council Membership

In 2020, Ghalibaf's membership of the Expediency Discernment Council ended.

April 2022: LayetteGate Scandal Erupts

In April 2022, photos surfaced showing Ghalibaf's wife and family returning from a luxury shopping trip in Turkey with 20 pieces of luggage, sparking the "LayetteGate" scandal and calls for his resignation.

2022: Leaked Audio on Yas Holding Company Scandal

In early 2022, a leaked audio recording was published by Radio Farda, which purported to show former IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari and Brigadier General Sadegh Zolghadr-Nia discussing the Yas Holding Company case, mentioning Ghalibaf's efforts to cover up the scandal.

February 2024: Canadian Residency Application of Ghalibaf's Son Refused

In February 2024, Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller announced that the permanent residency application of Eshagh Ghalibaf, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's son, was refused.

June 2024: Ghalibaf approved for 2024 Iranian presidential election

In June 2024, Ghalibaf's candidacy for the Iranian presidential election was approved by the guardian council.

2024: Ghalibaf Runs for Parliamentary Election

Despite scandals, Ghalibaf ran for parliamentary election in 2024 and remained as speaker of the house in the Islamic Republic's parliament.

August 2025: Ali Larijani Heads Supreme National Security Council

Since August 2025, IRGC Brigadier General Ali Larijani headed the Supreme National Security Council.

December 2025: Ghalibaf viewed "favorably" by 56% of population

According to a report released in December 2025, Ghalibaf was viewed "favorably" by 56% of the population, up from 55% in the previous year.

December 2025: Protests Erupt and Escalate

In late December 2025 and escalated in early 2026, demonstrations began leading to lethal force, nationwide internet shutdowns, and tens of thousands of arrests, with high estimates of civilian deaths.

2025: Ghalibaf Calls for Punishment Against Protestors

During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, Ghalibaf called for punishment against protestors, whom he called enemies and terrorists, being described by Time as having a reputation for sycophancy and corruption.

2025: Calls for Punishment of Protestors

During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, Ghalibaf called for the punishment of protestors, whom he called enemies and terrorists.

2025: Ghalibaf Involved in State Response to Iranian Protests

Ghalibaf, as Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, was a prominent government figure in the state response to the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, which human rights groups and international media organisations described as a brutal crackdown and massacre of demonstrators.

February 2026: Ghalibaf Emerges as Powerful Wartime Leader

Following the outbreak of war between Israel, the United States and Iran on 28 February 2026, Ghalibaf emerged as one of the most powerful figures in Iran's wartime leadership structure.

March 2026: Ghalibaf Assumes Responsibility for Strategic Decision Making

After the killing of Ali Larijani on 17 March 2026, Ghalibaf quietly assumed responsibility for strategic decision making. Shortly after taking his position as the head of the Supreme National Security Council, Ghalibaf threatened the US that Iran would target US troops stationed in the region.

March 2026: Ghalibaf Rejects Negotiations with the United States

On 29 March 2026, Ghalibaf rejected the ongoing negotiations with the United States, saying that Iran could not be forced into submission.

April 2026: Strategic Role and Ceasefire Talks

As of April 2026, Ghalibaf was handling the strategic matters of Iran during the 2026 Iran War, and led the Iranian delegation in ceasefire talks with a U.S. delegation in Islamabad, Pakistan.

2026: Assassination of Ali Larijani

Ali Larijani, the former chairman of parliament, was later assassinated in the 2026 Iran War.

2026: Ghalibaf Calls for Punishment Against Protestors