Blood-soaked bags, pics of kids...

‘Minab 168’ | Iran speaker’s tribute to victims killed in elementary school in Feb 28 attack 

IANS Tehran

A symbolic image from aboard an aircraft carrying Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf to Islamabad, showing portraits of children killed in the Minab school attack placed on aeroplane seats alongside backpacks and roses.

Ghalibaf used the high-stakes journey to present a striking visual message. Inside the aircraft, empty seats were arranged with photographs and belongings of victims of the Minab school strike, most of them children, killed in what Iran describes as a US-Israeli attack. Sharing on X, Ghalibaf wrote, “My companions on this flight, Minab 168,” referring to the children and staff who lost their lives in the February 28 strike.

Upon arrival in Islamabad, Ghalibaf adopted a cautious stance, stating Iran is entering the talks with “good intentions but no trust”, according to Tasnim News Agency. He noted previous rounds of negotiations consistently fail­ed to yield lasting outcomes.

“Unfortunately, our experience of negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and breach of contract,” he said, adding that  even during earlier engagements, Iran had faced actions it considers violations of prior understandings.

Outlining Tehran’s position, Ghalibaf emphasised that any agreement would depend on the approach taken by the US.

“In the upcoming negotiations, if the American side is ready to make a real agreement and grant the rights of the Iranian people, they will see our readiness to make an agreement as well,” he said.

He cautioned against what he described as insincerity in diplomatic efforts, warning Iran would respond firmly if negotiations were used as a cover for actions lacking genuine intent.