Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, is leading talks with the US after war killed the Islamic Republic's top leaders.
The 64-year-old former Revolutionary Guard commander rose to power through decades of regime loyalty and involvement in suppressing dissent at home.
He must now balance selling any US deal to hardliners and satisfying reformists who seek peace with the West.
AI-generated summary was reviewed by a CNN editor.
When the Iranian delegation landed in Zurich, Switzerland at the weekend, chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was the first down the aircraft steps, followed by the foreign minister and other dignitaries.
