Iran International senior analyst Mara Despina Vessi has identified six individuals in Tehran as members of a decision-making committee handling negotiations and conflict strategy with the United States, according to reporting from the outlet [1][2]. The six individuals are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Masoud Pezeshkian, Abbas Araghchi, Mohsen Rezaei, Ali Abdollahian, and Ahmad Vahidi.
According to Vessi’s analysis, the group divides sharply on Iran’s strategic direction. The first three – Qalibaf, Pezeshkian, and Araghchi – show greater inclination toward reaching agreement with the United States, while Rezaei, Abdollahian, and Vahidi favor continuing confrontation and military escalation [1][2].
Vessi’s assessment reflects deeper internal divisions within Iran’s power structure. In July 2026, the analyst reported serious indications of internal conflict and power struggles in Tehran, noting that while some officials including Pezeshkian, Qalibaf, and Araghchi pursued negotiations, “some factions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sought to expand the conflict through military actions while negotiations continue” [1].
The six individuals have drawn public anger over their roles in recent years. According to Vessi’s analysis, all six face accusations of responsibility for civilian casualties and crimes, fueling popular demands for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic [1][2].
This internal split occurs against a backdrop of broader pressure on Iran’s government. In June 2026, Vessi reported that beyond the United States and Israel, “the majority of Iranians are determined to overthrow the government,” citing intensified inflation and economic hardship stemming from ongoing conflict as key drivers of potential popular uprising [1].
The identification of these six figures provides a window into how Iran’s decision-making apparatus functions during a period of heightened international tension. The division between negotiation-oriented and confrontation-oriented factions suggests ongoing competition between competing strategic visions within Iran’s leadership structure, with profound implications for the trajectory of U.S.-Iran relations.
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Sources
- [1] Report from Iran International ایران اینترنشنال Critical of Iranian government and protesters
- [2] Report from Iran International ایران اینترنشنال Critical of Iranian government and protesters
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