A striking image from inside a plane carrying Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf to Islamabad has set the tone for crucial US-Iran talks taking place amid ceasefire tensions, military escalation, and fragile diplomatic efforts.
En route to the negotiations, Ghalibaf used the journey to highlight a powerful visual message. Inside the aircraft, empty seats were arranged with photographs and personal belongings of victims, including blood-soaked school bags from the Minab school strike, which Iran says killed children in a US-Israeli attack.
Sharing the image on X, Ghalibaf wrote, “my companions on this flight, Minab168,” referring to the children and staff killed in the February 28, 2026 strike on an elementary school in Minab.
The attack, which Iran claims killed at least 165 people and injured more than 100, has become a key reference point in Tehran’s messaging ahead of the talks.
‘Good intentions but no trust’ as talks begin
On arrival in Islamabad, Ghalibaf adopted a cautious tone, saying Iran is entering discussions with “good intentions but no trust,” according to Tasnim News Agency.
He said past negotiations had repeatedly failed.
“Unfortunately, our experience of negotiating with the Americans has always ended in failure and breach of agreement,” he said, adding that Iran had faced strikes even during earlier diplomatic engagements.
Ghalibaf stressed that Iran’s position remains conditional.
“If the American side is ready to reach a real agreement and respect the rights of the Iranian people, they will find Iran ready for an agreement as well,” he said.
He also warned against deception in diplomacy, saying Iran would respond firmly if talks were used as cover for insincere actions.
US signals openness but warns against missteps
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking before departing for Islamabad, said Washington is open to a deal if negotiations are conducted in good faith.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said.
However, he cautioned that any attempts to mislead the US side would be met with a firm response.
President Donald Trump also commented on social media, suggesting Iran may be overestimating its position ahead of the talks and referencing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Delegations arrive in Pakistan for key ceasefire talks
The Islamabad negotiations bring together senior delegations following a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier with mediation from Pakistan, Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Iran’s delegation is led by Ghalibaf alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US side includes Vice President JD Vance, presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner.
War backdrop raises stakes for both sides
The ongoing conflict, now nearing six weeks, has caused widespread destruction across Iran and Lebanon, with thousands reported dead and major disruption to regional stability and global energy routes.
At the centre of tensions remains the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran continues to exert pressure over maritime movement. Tehran insists it will not surrender what it calls its “legitimate rights,” while limited shipping continues through the waterway.
President Trump has accused Iran of using control of shipping lanes as leverage, warning against economic pressure tactics.
Meanwhile, Israel continues airstrikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah-linked positions, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that military objectives remain incomplete, adding further uncertainty to the negotiations.
Fragile diplomacy meets battlefield realities
The Islamabad talks unfold amid sharply differing narratives of the ceasefire and unresolved commitments on both sides.
Even as delegations gather, deep mistrust persists, with symbolic gestures such as Ghalibaf’s in-flight display reflecting the emotional and political weight shaping the negotiations. (Agency)
