Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian National Assembly. EPA Yonhap News National Assembly Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads the Iranian negotiating team, expressed his will to defend the Strait of Hormuz. He also said that both military response, defense, and negotiations can be carried out simultaneously. Chairman Ghalibaf issued a statement on the 15th (local time) and said, “Iran’s national security is based on maintaining ‘Iranian order’ in the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring safe passage of merchant ships.