"I Came with 168": Iranian Delegation Brings Portraits of Slain Children to Ceasefire Talks

Entering Solemnly in Black Suits
A Silent Message of Pressure Over U.S. Airstrike Error

The Iranian delegation reportedly traveled to Pakistan for ceasefire negotiations with the United States, carrying the belongings and portraits of elementary school students who were killed in airstrikes.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, X (formerly Twitter)

On April 12 (local time), the overnight ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, came to a temporary close. According to foreign media outlets such as The New York Times (NYT), at least 70 senior Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, headed to Pakistan on April 10 carrying portraits of elementary school victims who were killed in U.S. airstrikes at the onset of the conflict.

Speaker Ghalibaf released photos of the airplane's interior en route to Islamabad through X (formerly Twitter). Portraits of children were placed on seats inside the cabin, along with their belongings such as backpacks and flowers. Ghalibaf commented, "These are my companions on this flight," adding the hashtag '#Minab168.' Minab168 is believed to refer to the victims of Shahzara Tayyiba Elementary School in Minab, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran, who died in the airstrikes.

The Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan wearing black suits. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The Iranian embassies in South Africa and Sierra Leone also uploaded videos on X showing Speaker Ghalibaf looking at the portraits and belongings placed inside the cabin. In addition, the entire Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan wearing black suits. Regarding this, the NYT explained, "The Iranian officials traveled with symbolic meaning."

Shahzara Tayyiba Elementary School was struck and its building collapsed on the first day of attacks by the United States and Israel on March 28. Local health authorities reported that about 170 people, including children and teachers present at the school, were killed in the attack.

Following the airstrike, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated, "The United States does not target civilians," distancing the U.S. from responsibility for the attack. However, the Times of India reported, "Last month, Iranian authorities claimed that a Tomahawk missile launched from the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance struck the school, resulting in the deaths of 168 civilians, including children." U.S. media outlets also cited preliminary bombing investigation findings, indicating that the attack may have occurred due to an error in U.S. target identification.

Meanwhile, Iranian local media reported the conclusion of the negotiations, noting that there were some serious disagreements between the two sides. The Iranian government also stated via X, "Some differences remain, but negotiations will continue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.