SAEDNEWS: In an extraordinary airborne encounter, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf took the pilot’s seat while former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani rode as a passenger—blurring the lines between cockpit and campaign trail.
According to Saed News, an unusual scene aboard a domestic Iranian flight has captured public attention: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, was photographed piloting a passenger aircraft with none other than former Speaker Ali Larijani aboard as a traveler. The image—now widely circulated on Iranian social media—has sparked intrigue and speculation about the symbolism behind the encounter.
Ghalibaf, born in 1961, is not only a seasoned politician but also an accomplished aviator. He holds a PhD in political geography and received formal Airbus pilot training in France. Beyond his political responsibilities, he serves as an associate professor in the Faculty of Geography at the University of Tehran.
The photo, which appears to have been taken mid-flight, presents a moment both candid and charged with subtext: two political heavyweights of Iran in a shared, enclosed space—one navigating the skies, the other along for the ride. Though no formal statement was released regarding the purpose or destination of the flight, the image alone speaks volumes in a political climate where every gesture is read for meaning.
As Iran approaches another election season, such encounters—especially when captured in high-altitude settings—highlight the complex interplay of legacy, leadership, and the enduring theater of Iranian politics.
