Islamabad: It was a somber and heart touching moment when Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s aircraft landed in Islamabad on Saturday.
Apart from Ghalibaf and members of a delegation that will be holding talks with the US to try and transform the fragile two-week ceasefire into a more durable agreement to end the Middle East crisis, the aircraft from Tehran carried memories of a tragedy.
Ghalibaf shared a striking image from inside the plane, showing empty passenger seats adorned with framed photographs of children and staff killed in the February 28, 2026, strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran. Each seat featured a portrait alongside personal belongings such as backpacks and flowers.
“My companions on this flight, Minab168,” the Iranian Speaker captioned the photograph, as reported by Republic TV.
This is a direct reference to the victims of the US attack, which Iranian authorities say claimed at least 165 lives, mostly schoolchildren, and injured over 100 others.
The missile strike on the Minab school occurred on the first day of US-Israeli attacks on Iran. It stands as a powerful emblem in Tehran’s diplomatic messaging. Iranian officials have described it as a stark reminder of civilian suffering, with the delegation informally referred to in some reports as the “Minab 168” mission.
Ghalibaf struck a measured but wary tone on reaching Islamabad. Speaking to reporters, he said Iran was approaching the discussions with “good intentions but no trust,” citing a history of failed past negotiations and perceived breaches by the American side.
“Unfortunately, our experience of negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of contract,” he stated, according to Iranian media. He emphasized that Tehran would remain firm: any deal must respect Iranian rights, and attempts to use talks as cover for deception would be met with a strong response.
Apart from Ghalibaf, the Iranian team includes foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. All eyes are on the multilateral efforts to stabilize the ceasefire. The US delegation is being led by vice president J D Vance.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance said before departing for Islamabad.
“If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” he cautioned.
Vance is joined by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
Even as the delegations settle in for what are expected to be intense sessions, the empty seats on Ghalibaf’s flight serve as a visual reminder of the human cost of armed conflict.
