Trump Reveals Who He’s Talking To In Iran & Russia’s Oil Crisis

April 1, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

President Trump has confirmed U.S. backchannel contacts with Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf amid ongoing war and regime flux following the supreme leader's death. The podcast also covers Ukrainian drone strikes crippling Russian oil exports at a critical moment of high prices, Moscow's accelerating internet restrictions, and Kyiv's new defense export deals with Gulf states to aid reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Backchannel Talks with Ghalibaf

Speculation about White House contacts in Iran has centered on Ghalibaf, a former IRGC commander, police chief, Tehran mayor, and perennial presidential candidate known as a "pragmatic hardliner." Trump described him and other post-strike leaders as a "different group" more reasonable than before, citing reports of Ghalibaf allowing Pakistani-linked tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a potential concession. The U.S. had temporarily removed him from targeting lists, viewing him as a possible interlocutor for a peaceful resolution.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:57) **US Confirms Iran Backchannel** - Trump reveals contact with parliament speaker Ghalibaf amid post-strike regime shifts
2 (02:18) **Ghalibaf's Profile** - IRGC commander turned political operator, seen as pragmatic hardliner
3 (03:46) **Signs of Engagement** - Removed from US/Israeli targeting, authorized tanker passage
4 (04:19) **Iranian Denials and Flux** - Ghalibaf denies talks, unclear who speaks for regime
5 (05:48) **Diplomatic Risks Highlighted** - Opportunist survivalist, not reformer
6 (09:11) **Russia's Expected Oil Boost** - Soaring prices and eased sanctions set up windfall
7 (10:40) **Ukrainian Drones Hit Exports** - Strikes on Black Sea/Baltic hubs take 40% capacity offline

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief:

New reporting reveals who the White House has been secretly engaging with in Iran, as President Trump confirms contact with a powerful regime insider—raising serious questions about whether he’s a credible partner… or just another problem.

Russia’s expected oil windfall from the Iran conflict takes a major hit, as Ukrainian drone strikes cripple key export infrastructure and threaten a critical revenue stream for Moscow.

The Kremlin tightens control at home, moving to isolate Russia from the global internet—potentially cutting millions off from outside information and communication.

And in today’s Back of the Brief—Ukraine expands its reach into the Middle East, striking new defense deals with Gulf nations that could play a key role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

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