As Iran’s delegation arrived in Pakistan for crucial peace talks, a powerful and emotional tribute on board their flight captured global attention. The haunting gesture served as a reminder of the human cost of war even as negotiations begin.
The Iranian delegation traveling to Pakistan was accompanied by a deeply symbolic and emotional gesture reflecting the horrors of war.
According to reports, a few seats on the plane were reserved for young girls who were killed in an American bombing in Minab. Instead of passengers, the seats carried their photographs and school bags.
همراهان من در این پرواز#Minab168 pic.twitter.com/xvXmDlSDiF
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 10, 2026
Tribute shared by Iranian leadership
The head of the delegation, Speaker Baqir Qalibaf, shared an image of the scene on social media.
In his message, Qalibaf described the girls as “My companions on this flight”, highlighting the emotional weight carried by the delegation as it headed for negotiations.
Victims of Minab bombing remembered
The tribute honoured the memory of the girls who were martyred in the American airstrike on the Iranian city of Minab on February 28. Their absence was symbolically marked through the empty seats, making a silent yet powerful statement about the cost of conflict.
Also Read: Ghalibaf-led high-level Iranian delegation reaches Islamabad
The gesture comes at a time when a temporary ceasefire is in place and negotiations between Iran and the United States are underway in Pakistan.
Hope for peace amid lasting scars
Qalibaf expressed hope that “the sun of peace will rise soon,” signaling optimism for the ongoing talks.
However, he also acknowledged the long-lasting impact of the conflict, saying it may take decades for the “black clouds of brutality” to fade from memory.
The emotional tribute underscores the human side of geopolitical conflict, reminding the world that beyond diplomacy and strategy lie real lives lost.
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