A symbolic gesture, images of children killed in the Minab incident were placed on seats aboard an Iranian government flight to Islamabad on Friday, turning the journey of a high-level delegation 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 image on soocial media calling the images placed on bagpacks along with roses his “companions on flight”.
In the image shared on X, he is seen viewing photographs of the children alongside their personal belongings. A video was also released with Qalibaf looking at the setup on flight seats.The delegation, led by Qalibaf along with foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, is in Pakistan for crucial talks aimed at stabilising a fragile regional ceasefire framework. The group was received at the airport by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.The symbolism came as Iran continues to push its conditions ahead of negotiations, including the release of frozen assets and broader ceasefire assurances in the region. Iranian officials have also expressed scepticism about the talks, with Qalibaf reiterating on arrival that past negotiations with the US had “always been met with failure and breach of promise,” even as he said Tehran still had goodwill but “no trust.”The Islamabad talks come amid ongoing efforts by the US to stabilise regional tensions following a recent ceasefire announcement, even as violence continues in parts of the Middle East, including strikes in southern Lebanon and retaliatory fire involving Hezbollah.Pakistan has described the talks as a “make-or-break” moment, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warning that the outcome could determine whether the fragile pause in hostilities holds or collapses under competing demands.Despite diplomatic momentum, major gaps remain between the sides, particularly over sanctions relief, regional security arrangements and control of strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Minab school strike
The Minab is an alleged precision airstrike on an elementary 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-based analyses, the school lay adjacent to a military complex that was hit, with conflicting accounts suggesting either collateral damage from strikes on the IRGC base or a targeting error. The attack reportedly killed at least 165 people, including students, and has not been independently verified as a deliberate strike on the school, with US and Israeli officials yet to formally claim responsibility while stating they are reviewing reports of civilian casualties.Iran, however, has directly blamed the United States. Last month, Iranian authorities named US Navy officers Commander Leigh R. Tate and Executive Officer Jeffrey E. York of the USS Spruance, alleging they ordered multiple Tomahawk missile launches that struck the school and killed 168 civilians, including children. Tehran has repeatedly described the strike as a US–Israeli operation, while Israel has denied any involvement.
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US media reports, including The New York Times, have pointed to American 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. A preliminary US military assessment, meanwhile, has reportedly raised the possibility of a targeting error during operations against IRGC-linked infrastructure.
