Further signs of turmoil are emerging in Iran’s U.S. negotiating team as hardliner Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf looks set to be replaced by a veteran conservative known for rejecting nuclear concessions, according to reports.

Iran International reported April 24 that Saeed Jalili, 60 — who already leads what has been described as a «shadow government» — is expected to succeed Ghalibaf following his sudden departure amid internal disputes.

Jalili also heads Iran’s ultra-hardline faction known as the Stability Front (Paydari), which is known to be a «bastion of ultraconservatism in Iran,» according to reports.

Ali Safavi, an official with the Iranian opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), told Fox News Digital that Jalili «has evolved from a nuclear negotiator to an influential actor within the regime.»

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Ghalibaf was reportedly forced to step down after attempting to bring the nuclear issue into talks with Washington, a move that triggered backlash within Iran’s political establishment.

President Donald Trump had called off plans for U.S. envoys to travel to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on April 25.

The rivalry between Jalili and Ghalibaf is said to span more than a decade and intensified during the 2024 elections, when Jalili refused to step aside, contributing to the victory of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Safavi said, «The increased visibility of latent divisions stems from recurring nationwide uprisings, deep economic crises and the pressures of war, all of which have intensified internal feuding.

«Far from signaling transformation, these developments reflect accelerating erosion and mounting pressure, deepening fractures and leaving the regime ever weaker and more vulnerable,» he added.

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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 27, 2024. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS)

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also seeking a continued leading role in negotiations, highlighting competing centers of influence over Iran’s diplomatic strategy, sources said.

Araghchi is in Islamabad, Pakistan, after returning from a short trip to Muscat, Oman, where he is holding high-level diplomatic talks on the conflict. Reports indicate Araghchi will travel to Moscow.

Jalili’s potential appointment, however, signals a hardening of Iran’s stance, with more emphasis on resistance over compromise.

«Within this regime, there are a number of constants espoused by all factions,» Safavi said before highlighting that these were «repression, the export of terrorism and the pursuit of nuclear weapons.»

«The factions all ultimately move along a common path: the preservation of power. They differ in methods, not in objectives,» Safavi cautioned.

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Jalili, meanwhile, served as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later ran for president three times. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Jalili, meanwhile, served as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator from 2007 to 2013 under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and later ran for president three times. He also served as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

A former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Jalili lost his right leg at 21 during the Iran-Iraq War, earning him the title of «Living Martyr».

The Paydari Front, which he is associated with, opposes engagement with the West — particularly the 2015 nuclear deal — and advocates a doctrine of «active resistance.»

During Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, Jalili also established a «shadow government» to counter the administration’s policies, especially the nuclear deal.

On April 7, he wrote on X: «Yes — ‘infrastructure’ is on the verge of collapse; the infrastructure of domination and the American order. And after that, a better foundation will be built.»

A day earlier, he posted: «‘Shut up’ is not the appropriate response to Trump’s ramblings; let him speak more. Nothing is more effective in laying bare the true nature of the United States than Trump’s outbursts.»

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«In dealing with this regime,» Safavi said, «we must bear in mind that in the 45 years since the mullahs consolidated their rule in 1981 by crushing all peaceful political life, so-called reformists have governed for nearly half that time — presiding over some of its darkest crimes.»

«These include the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners, the assassination of dissidents abroad, the chain murders of intellectuals inside Iran and the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons.»

A shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is raising fresh questions about security at one of Washington’s highest-profile events, with some attendees describing what they saw as lapses in screening and access control.

While the Secret Service and federal law enforcement moved quickly to secure President Donald Trump and other officials, accounts from attendees and lawmakers have painted a mixed picture of the security posture at the Washington Hilton.

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Misha Komadovsky, a journalist for Germany’s DW, shared a photo on X of the paper ticket used by attendees to gain access to the event, saying it was «the only thing required» for entry into the Washington Hilton ballroom. «There was no security screening prior to entering the lobby,» he wrote.

ABC News reporter Beatrice Peterson, who wrote on X that she has attended the event for more than a decade, offered a more measured assessment, saying the overall security posture appeared consistent with past years. 

She noted that pre-event gatherings tend to be more fluid, while the dinner itself is typically more tightly controlled, and that security — both plainclothes and uniformed — is always present inside and outside the venue.

Peterson described the crowd and security presence as «typical-ish» for a year in which the president attends the dinner, suggesting no obvious deviations from past practice.

However, she said multiple investigations are expected to examine what happened and whether any failures occurred, adding the incident could permanently change how the event is handled going forward.

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Harrison Fields, a former White House principal deputy press secretary, told «FOX & Friends» there were «no checkpoints to get into the hotel,» adding that the gunman could have been «roaming» and observing attendees before the incident.

«There was a VIP reception right off the main ballroom where Cabinet secretaries were, where the president could have been — and there was no security apparatus leading up to that point,» Fields said.

Fields acknowledged that the Secret Service and local law enforcement «took immediate steps to keep us safe,» but said there was «no real buffer» in place, which he noticed as soon as he arrived.

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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz and his wife Julia Nesheiwat, former U.S. Homeland Security Advisor, are rushed out of the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

Even as some attendees described the security posture as typical, lawmakers offered a far more critical assessment.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., pointed to what he described as «glaring security issues,» even as he acknowledged that the Secret Service and federal law enforcement «acted swiftly» to secure the ballroom and move President Donald Trump and other officials to safety.

In a post on X, Lawler said there was no photo ID requirement or verified attendee list, which he noted is standard for White House events. He also cited the absence of magnetometers before entry to the ballroom and said multiple pre-event receptions with limited security created potential access points.

Lawler said the building remained open to the public and raised concerns about accountability inside the room, noting there was no clear handle on how many members of Congress were present or where they were seated.

He called for a «complete and thorough after-action» review, focusing on how the gunman moved from his hotel room into what he described as a secure area with multiple firearms.

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Police and National Guard stand in front of the Washington Hilton after the White House Correspondents Association Dinner was postponed April 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who attended the dinner, also raised concerns about the venue itself. «We were there front and center,» Fetterman said. «That venue wasn’t built to accommodate an event with the line of succession for the U.S. government.»

Similarily, Kari Lake, a Trump ally in attendance, echoed criticism of the security measures. «I was there. Security was terrible at the event,» Lake wrote on X. «It was the easiest event I’ve ever gained access to that the president was at. It was so bad we talked about it at our table before the shots rang out.»

The Washington Hilton has long hosted high-level government events, including gatherings attended by the president, vice president and members of Congress beyond the annual dinner.

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Last week, the First Lady’s Luncheon was held in the same ballroom, where first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance delivered remarks.

The Secret Service’s familiarity with the venue helped enable a swift response — and is one reason the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been held there annually since 1968.