Sun, 17 May 2026
World News Updated May 17, 2026 · 11:16

Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf Declares New World Order Led by Global South

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that the international arena is at the cusp of a new order, with the Global South leading the shift. Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of historic global transformations, Ghalibaf stated that Iran's recent 70-day resistance against US and Israeli pressures has accelerated this paradigm shift. The remarks follow a high-stakes Beijing summit where Xi hosted President Trump, discussing trade and the Thucydides trap. Iranian state media highlighted that Iran's resistance has exposed the fragility of the old US-led unipolar order and inspired developing nations seeking alternatives to Western hegemony.

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ANI
· 3 min read · 66 views

Iranian Speaker Ghalibaf declares 'new world order' led by the Global South

Tehran, May 17

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday declared that the international arena is "at the cusp of a new order," asserting that the traditional dominance of Western powers is rapidly eroding.

Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of historic global transformations, Ghalibaf stated that Iran's ongoing resistance has accelerated this geopolitical shift, adding that "the future belongs to the Global South."

In a post on X, he emphasised that Iran's recent "70-day resistance" against US and Israeli military and economic pressures has acted as a primary catalyst, shortening the timeline for this global paradigm shift.

"The world stands at the cusp of a new order. As President Xi said 'The transformation unseen in a century is accelerating across the globe,' and I emphasize that the Iranian nation's 70-day resistance has accelerated this transformation. The future belongs to the Global South," Ghalibaf posted.

Ghalibaf's strategic invoking of President Xi is not a coincidence. It arrives at a highly volatile moment in global diplomacy, serving as a direct response to the broader geopolitical chess match playing out between Washington, Beijing, and Tehran.

Crucially, Ghalibaf's remarks directly follow a high-stakes summit in Beijing where President Xi hosted President Trump. While Trump and Xi haggled over massive trade deals, tariffs, and the flashpoint issue of Taiwan, Iran watched closely.

During the meeting, Xi said, "The whole world is watching our meeting. Currently, a transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe and the international situation is fluid and turbulent."

"The world has come to a new crossroads. Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides trap and create a new paradigm of major country relations?" Xi added, while calling for greater stability and cooperation amid global uncertainty.

Xi, through his "Thucydides trap" remark, referred to the recent conflict in West Asia between the US and Iran.

The term, first popularised by Harvard scholar Graham T Allison, highlighted the intense structural tensions and increased risk of conflict that arise when an emerging power challenges the dominance of an existing global power.

Xi further highlighted the significance of ties between the two nations, noting that both countries stood to gain through cooperation and lose through confrontation.

"I always believe that our two countries have more common interests than differences. Success in one is an opportunity for the other. And a stable bilateral relationship is good for the world. China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation," he stated.

According to Iranian state media Press TV, Ghalibaf said the Iranian nation's "resistance" had become "a driving force in accelerating a transformation unseen in a century", describing it as part of a new multipolar order.

The news report said that Iran's "resistance" had "exposed the fragility of the old US-led unipolar order and hastened its inevitable decline," while also inspiring nations across "Latin America to Africa and Asia" seeking alternatives to "Western hegemony."

Press TV said in its report, "From Latin America to Africa and Asia, developing nations increasingly recognise that the era of Western hegemony, which is marked by sanctions, military adventurism and economic domination, is drawing to a close."

— ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As an Indian, I can't help but think about our own position. We've been playing a careful game - balancing ties with the US, Russia, and now China too. The Global South concept sounds nice, but India needs to ensure it doesn't get caught in the crossfire between these competing visions. Nonalignment 2.0, anyone? 😅
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Rohit P
The Thucydides trap reference is spot on. But let's be real - Iran claiming it accelerated global transformation after a 70-day resistance? That's a bit of a stretch. The shift toward multipolarity has been happening for years, driven by China's economic rise, not just one country's military posturing. Still, it's a sign of changing times when even Tehran can make such bold claims.
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Sneha F
What strikes me most is Xi's warning about the Thucydides trap during his meeting with Trump. The Chinese are clearly worried about miscalculation leading to conflict. And here's Iran, trying to insert itself as a key player in that dynamic. It's a dangerous game - one wrong move and the whole region could go up in flames. For India's sake, I hope cooler heads prevail.
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Michael C
I'm a Westerner but living in India, and I see the Global South narrative gaining traction. However, this feels like propaganda. Iran's economy is in shambles from sanctions, and they're claiming to lead a new world order? The real story is China using countries like Iran as chess pieces while building its own dominance. Don't mistake rhetoric for reality.
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Kavya N
Whether we like it or not, the world is

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