Iran has announced that parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf will lead its negotiating team for upcoming talks in Islamabad with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, set to begin on Friday, according to the country’s Supreme Security Council. Qalibaf, a long-time protégé of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and confidant of his son Mojtaba, has been a vocal critic of Israel and the United States.
During the first day of the war, following Khamenei’s killing, Qalibaf promised what he called “devastating blows” to Trump and Netanyahu, warning they had crossed Iran’s red lines. This fiery rhetoric underscores his deep allegiance to Iran’s theocratic system, which he has defended against both external adversaries and internal dissent.
Yet despite his hardline stance, Qalibaf is also seen as a pragmatist and modernizer. During his 2005 presidential campaign, he highlighted his credentials as a qualified pilot, presenting a professional image alongside his political experience. Analysts say his dual reputation as a tough ideologue and pragmatic figure could shape the upcoming US‑Iran negotiations in Islamabad.
