Delegation details for the upcoming US-Iran peace talks have emerged before the meeting begins. Iran's Tasnim News Agency said Tehran will send a 71-member delegation led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while the US side, headed by Vice President JD Vance, will total 300 people, with a large share assigned to security, protection, and protocol duties.
Iran stacks its team with political, diplomatic, and financial officials
According to a July 11 report cited by Xinhua and attributed to Tasnim, Iran organized a 71-person team for the talks. The group includes not only core negotiators, but also a dedicated expert committee, media representatives, and protocol and security staff. Ghalibaf, known for a hardline stance toward the US, will lead the delegation.
Other key figures named in the report include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, and Defense Committee Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian. Tasnim said the agenda covers highly sensitive issues such as lifting economic sanctions, the future of nuclear facilities, and the military balance across the Middle East. Iran has therefore added more technical and specialist personnel. The accompanying roster also includes Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei, Deputy Director for Foreign Policy at the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, along with strategic advisers to the speaker and several senior lawmakers.
US delegation is far larger, with security presence drawing attention
The US team is much bigger in headcount than Iran's. Tasnim reported that the American delegation will number 300 in total, though a substantial portion of that figure consists of security, protection, and protocol staff. The report framed the setup as a more defensive posture from Washington.
Tasnim also said the talks are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan. The same report referred to an earlier warning by US President Donald Trump that the “strongest weapons” would be used if no agreement is reached. Against that backdrop, the size of the US security presence has added to the tension surrounding the meeting.
Delegation makeup offers an early signal before the talks begin
Attention on the negotiations extends beyond bilateral diplomacy. The source report said the talks could affect global oil prices and the broader geopolitical balance in the Middle East. With both delegations now partly in view, the contrast is clear: Iran is emphasizing senior political, economic, and security decision-makers, while the US is arriving with a much larger support and protection structure.