Pics of students, blood-soaked bags, shoes: Iran carries Minab victims’ memories on plane to Islamabad for US talks

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Islamabad: A powerful visual from inside a plane carrying Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to Islamabad has drawn attention ahead of crucial US-Iran talks.

Iran’s tribute to Minab

Seats inside the aircraft were filled with photographs and belongings of victims from the Minab school strike. The photo also features blood-stained school bags, shoes and flowers.

Sharing the image on social media, Ghalibaf wrote, “My companions on this flight #Minab168”. The image underlined the human cost of the conflict as US-Iran negotiations are set to begin today.

Over 160 girls killed in Minab strike

The Minab strike has become central to Iran’s messaging. The US-Israel attack reportedly killed more than 160 people, many of them children, at a girls’ elementary school.

“The destroyed building is a primary school for girls in the south of Iran. It was bombed in broad daylight, when packed with young pupils. Dozens of innocent children have been murdered at this site alone. These crimes against the Iranian People will not go unanswered,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said.

Araghchi had also posted a photo of graves being dug for the young girls killed in the US-Israel strikes on February 28. “Their bodies were torn to shreds. This is how “rescue” promised by Mr. Trump looks in reality. From Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood,” Araghchi had tweeted on X.

However, the United States denied responsibility of the Minab attack. “We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever,” President Donald Trump said.

US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad

On arrival in Islamabad, Ghalibaf said, “We have goodwill, but we do not have trust in the United States.”

He added, “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.”

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington is open to dialogue. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said.

He warned, “If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”