Iranian Speaker Pushes ‘Global South’ Vision In Call For New World Order

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that “the future belongs to the Global South,” arguing.

That the international balance of power is shifting away from traditional Western dominance toward emerging nations. The remarks came in a post on X in which the Iranian Parliament speaker said the world was entering a “new order” shaped by rising geopolitical transformations and resistance to Western pressure.

What Ghalibaf Said

Quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ghalibaf said global political changes were accelerating at an unprecedented pace.

“The world stands at the cusp of a new order,” he wrote, referencing Xi’s statement that “transformations unseen in a century” are reshaping international politics.

Ghalibaf also claimed that Iran’s recent period of resistance against American and Israeli military and economic pressure had contributed to speeding up these changes.

According to him, the growing influence of countries outside the Western bloc signals the rise of the “Global South” as a major force in world affairs.

Xi Jinping’s ‘Transformation Unseen In A Century’ Remark

Ghalibaf’s comments echoed statements Xi made during high-level discussions on global instability and international power shifts. Xi said the world was witnessing rapid geopolitical changes and warned that international conditions had become increasingly uncertain and turbulent.

The Chinese leader also referred to the idea of the “Thucydides Trap” — a theory suggesting conflict often emerges when a rising power challenges an established global power. The term was popularised by political scientist Graham Allison and is frequently used in discussions about tensions between the United States and China.

Xi stressed that cooperation between major powers was more beneficial than confrontation, saying stable relations between countries were important for global stability.

Why Iran Is Echoing China’s Messaging

Analysts believe Ghalibaf’s decision to invoke Xi’s language reflects Iran’s effort to align itself more closely with China’s broader vision of a multipolar world order.

The comments also came shortly after a major summit in Beijing involving Xi and US President Donald Trump, where trade tensions and wider geopolitical issues were discussed.

By repeating Xi’s rhetoric, Iran appears to be positioning itself as part of a larger bloc of emerging nations seeking to challenge Western-led global influence.

The messaging also coincides with Ghalibaf’s appointment as Iran’s special representative for China affairs, a role focused on strengthening economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

What The ‘Global South’ Means

The term “Global South” generally refers to developing and emerging economies across Asia, Africa, Latin America and parts of the Middle East.

In recent years, countries including China, India, Brazil and Iran have increasingly pushed for a more multipolar global system in which political and economic influence is not concentrated solely among Western powers.

Ghalibaf’s remarks reflect Iran’s attempt to frame its regional and international policies as part of this broader global realignment.