Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has been identified as a potential contact for talks with the United States amid ongoing conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran, though Iranian officials have denied that formal negotiations are taking place.

Multiple sources indicate that Qalibaf's name has been floated as a possible Iranian negotiating partner. An Iranian official confirmed to CBS News that Iran had received U.S. messages on peace talks through a mediator, contradicting earlier denials of any communication. President Trump has stated the U.S. is dealing with a "top person" in Iran but declined to identify the individual, citing safety concerns.

Qalibaf, 64, is a former Revolutionary Guard commander and pilot who has served as Tehran's mayor and made multiple unsuccessful presidential bids. He has maintained close ties to Iran's leadership structure, particularly with Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly became the new supreme leader after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike in February. The 86-year-old's death has created uncertainty within Iran's power structure.

The parliament speaker has publicly denied ongoing talks with the United States. "No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets," Qalibaf wrote on social media Monday. Iran's Tasnim news agency described Western media reports as a "political bomb" intended to create internal divisions.

Qalibaf has a history of presenting himself as a pragmatic hard-liner willing to engage with the West. In 2008, he told The Times of London that he wanted "the West to change its attitude to Iran and trust Iran." However, he has also been linked to crackdowns on protesters and praised the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

The reported mediation efforts come as the conflict enters its fourth week, with Iran facing what sources describe as heavy military losses. Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis noted the U.S. faces a "tough spot" because Iran could claim control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz if fighting ceased now. Iranian military officials have vowed to continue fighting "until complete victory" despite the reported losses.