Negotiations between the US and Iran in Switzerland, after the two countries signed a preliminary agreement to temporarily suspend the conflict for 60 days and discuss terms towards a more long-term peace. Below are Iranian figures who play an important role in the negotiation process.
Mojtaba Khamenei
Iran's most powerful figure today, Grand Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, 56 years old, is a rather mysterious figure. Most Iranians have never heard him speak or appear publicly since he took over as supreme leader in March.
Since succeeding his father - Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he has only exchanged with the public through a number of written statements. Many sources say that he was also injured in attacks by the US and Israel that began in February, but the circumstances and extent of the injuries have not been clarified.
Although rarely appearing in public, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still the one who must approve any agreements that Iranian negotiators reach with the US.
On June 19, he issued a statement saying that although he did not agree with the signing of the temporary agreement, he still agreed based on guarantees from President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a message released in April, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei affirmed that Iran will continue to maintain its nuclear capabilities, control the Strait of Hormuz and believe that the US has no foothold in the Persian Gulf region.
Abbas Araghchi
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, 63 years old, served nearly a decade in the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq war.
After the war ended, he joined the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Iranian Ambassador to Helsinki (Finland) and Tokyo (Japan). A US Embassy official once commented that he was polite and had good diplomatic skills.
Mr. Araghchi played an important role in the negotiation process of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the US and world powers. Ms. Wendy Sherman - then head of the US negotiating delegation - once described him as "a very tough negotiator".
Originating from a traditional carpet business family, in his memoir published in 2025, Mr. Araghchi shared his views on the art of negotiation, emphasizing the importance of repeating requirements, combined with steadfastness and persistence.
According to him, Iran's negotiating style means continuous, unremitting negotiation. "This process requires a lot of time and energy; whoever quickly gets tired or loses patience will be the loser," he said.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, 64, currently leads Tehran's negotiating delegation.
He holds the rank of brigadier general and also served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel, he was one of Iran's key figures.
In an interview with state television on June 18, Mr. Ghalibaf said that Iran did not allow Israel and the US to achieve "the goals they themselves declared when launching the fighting".
Mr. Ghalibaf has campaigned for president of Iran many times but was unsuccessful. Previously, he held the position of Mayor of Tehran.
Considered a conservative politician but not too tough on social issues, Mr. Ghalibaf has repeatedly shown that his "red line" is the existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
