The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Senior Iranian officials are disagreeing over the composition of the negotiating team ahead of US-Iran talks on Friday, Iran International reported, citing informed sources. The sources shared that IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi is attempting to curb the authority of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran International wrote. According to Iranian media reports, the delegation will be led by Ghalibaf.
Vahidi has called for the inclusion of Mohammad Bagheer Zolghadr on the negotiating team, whom Iran International previously reported had been appointed Secretary of the National Security Council as a direct result of IRGC pressure on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The negotiating team has been pushing back against the demand, as they consider Zolghadr too inexperienced for strategic negotiations.
The IRGC commander-in-chief and the IRGC Aerospace Commander have also insisted that the delegation refuse to negotiate on Iran’s missile program, according to Iran International. Ghalibaf has repeatedly stated on Thursday and Friday that the ceasefire in place for negotiations to begin includes a ceasefire in Lebanon, which both Israel and the US have denied.
US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of “doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say,” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “That is not the agreement we have!” Trump wrote in a post shared on Truth Social. US Vice President JD Vance left for Pakistan on Friday, saying that US President Trump had given the group “some pretty clear guidelines” on negotiations. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance said. (Ed note: Could this be the beginning of a power struggle between the IRGC and the Government?) (Source)
Vahidi has called for the inclusion of Mohammad Bagheer Zolghadr on the negotiating team, whom Iran International previously reported had been appointed Secretary of the National Security Council as a direct result of IRGC pressure on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The negotiating team has been pushing back against the demand, as they consider Zolghadr too inexperienced for strategic negotiations.
The IRGC commander-in-chief and the IRGC Aerospace Commander have also insisted that the delegation refuse to negotiate on Iran’s missile program, according to Iran International. Ghalibaf has repeatedly stated on Thursday and Friday that the ceasefire in place for negotiations to begin includes a ceasefire in Lebanon, which both Israel and the US have denied.
US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of “doing a very poor job, dishonorable, some would say,” of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “That is not the agreement we have!” Trump wrote in a post shared on Truth Social. US Vice President JD Vance left for Pakistan on Friday, saying that US President Trump had given the group “some pretty clear guidelines” on negotiations. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance said. (Ed note: Could this be the beginning of a power struggle between the IRGC and the Government?) (Source)
