Photo shared by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (published on X)
In a symbolic gesture, pictures of children killed in the Minab incident were placed on seats on an Iranian government flight to Islamabad on Friday, turning a high-level delegation’s trip into a stark visual statement ahead of key peace talks.In a social media post shared by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, he shared the photo on social media, describing the photos placed on the backpacks with flowers as his “trip companions.”
He watches
The Iranian elite arrives in Islamabad, and the red carpet rolls out as tense nuclear talks with the United States approach He watches
In the photo shared on X, he is seen looking at pictures of children along with their personal belongings. A video was also released showing Ghalibaf checking out airline seat settings.
The delegation, led by Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is visiting Pakistan to hold crucial talks aimed at achieving stability within the framework of the fragile regional ceasefire.
The group was received at the airport by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Army Commander Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.This symbolism came as Iran continues to push its conditions ahead of the negotiations, including the release of frozen assets and broader guarantees of a ceasefire in the region. Iranian officials also expressed doubts about the talks, with Ghalibaf stressing upon his arrival that previous negotiations with the United States “were always met with failure and violation of promise,” even as he said Tehran still had good faith but “no trust.”
“The Islamabad talks come amid ongoing efforts by the United States to stabilize regional tensions following the recent ceasefire announcement, even as violence continues in parts of the Middle East, including strikes in southern Lebanon and retaliatory fires involving Hezbollah.Pakistan described the talks as a “watershed moment”, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warning that the outcome could determine whether the fragile cessation of hostilities holds or collapses under competing demands.Despite the diplomatic momentum, significant gaps remain between the two sides, especially regarding sanctions relief, regional security arrangements, and control of strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Minab school strike
“Minab” is an alleged precision airstrike on a primary school in Minab, which was reportedly damaged during coordinated strikes targeting a nearby Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval facility on the first day of Operation Epic Fury. According to multiple media reports and satellite analysis, the school is located next to a military complex that was bombed, and conflicting accounts point to either collateral damage from the strikes on the IRGC base or a targeting error. The attack reportedly killed at least 165 people, including students. It has not been independently verified as a deliberate attack on the school, and US and Israeli officials have not yet formally claimed responsibility, while stating they are reviewing reports of civilian casualties.But Iran placed the blame squarely on the United States. Last month, Iranian authorities named US Navy officers Commander Lee R. Tate and Executive Officer Jeffrey E. York of the USS Spruance, alleging that they ordered the launch of several Tomahawk missiles that struck the school and killed 168 civilians, including children. Tehran has repeatedly described the raid as a US-Israeli operation, while Israel has denied any involvement.
reconnaissance
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US media reports, including The New York Times, pointed to US strikes on nearby naval facilities near the Strait of Hormuz as the likely context for the operation, while CBC News said satellite imagery and video analysis suggested the school was damaged in a precision strike on a military complex adjacent to the building. Meanwhile, an initial US military assessment reportedly raised the possibility of targeting error during operations against infrastructure linked to the IRGC.
