Planes switched secretly: Did the Iranian delegation avert attacks after failed US talks in Islamabad?

A member of an Iranian delegation has made a striking claim about security threats. After US ceasefire talks failed in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11), the Iranian delegation has claimed that it encountered urgent security threats while en route to Tehran.

Headed by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the delegation arrived early Saturday for talks, days after Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire following weeks of conflict.

According to Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian political analyst and a member of the delegation that arrived in Pakistan last week, the Iranian team, which included Araghchi and Ghalibaf, secretly switched planes and travelled by bus and train amid attack fears.

This came even after Pakistan put in place extraordinary multi-layered security to protect the plane carrying the Iranian delegation.

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We take a look.

"Changed return route, plane could be attacked"

Marandi, who is also a professor at Tehran University, told Lebanese news outlet that the delegation sensed a significant threat during their return from negotiations in Pakistan.

"We received direct threats while en route to Islamabad that our plane might be attacked," he said. "As a result, on the way back to Tehran, the delegation secretly switched planes," Marandi confirmed.

The Iranian delegation's aircraft was immediately diverted and made an emergency landing in the Iranian city of Mashhad. The members of the delegation, from there, continued their journey to Tehran via train, car, and bus, the analyst added.

"We don't trust the United States," said Marandi while speaking to Al-Mayadeen on Tuesday (April 14). According to him, despite the security threats, the delegation was determined to return to Iran and did not wish to remain in Pakistan any longer.

"Iran always knew the United States was deceitful. The Iranian regime is strengthening its military capabilities while being at the negotiating table," Marandi furthered.

US-Iran heated exchange in Islamabad 

Meanwhile, Newsweek reported, citing an Iranian report, that tense moments prevailed throughout the talks with Washington in Islamabad.

“How can we trust you when, in the last Geneva meeting, you said the US would not attack while diplomacy was underway?” asked Araghchi during the negotiation.

The most significant exchanges occurred between US Vice President JD Vance, Araghchi and Ghalibaf.

According to a security source, the negotiations were described as "uneven." “There were ups and downs. There were tense moments. People left the room, and then came back,” the report said, quoting sources.

While the negotiations appeared close to producing a deal several times, they eventually fell apart over key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi also adopted a sharper tone when discussions turned to guarantees, including assurances of non-aggression and sanctions relief. And the outcome of the peace talks was no breakthrough.

US-Iran to resume talks in Islamabad again?

Despite the breakdown, negotiating teams of both sides could return to Pakistan later this week to resume peace talks to end the bombing campaign in West Asia, Reuters reported, citing Pakistani and Iranian officials.

A source involved in the negotiations said a proposal had been put forward to Washington and Tehran for the delegations to return to Islamabad and continue the talks. While no date has been finalised, both nations could reconvene as early as the end of this week.

"The coming rounds of talks can come sometime later this week or earlier next week. But nothing is finalised as of now," an Iranian embassy official in Islamabad asserted.

"No firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open," a senior Iranian source told the news agency.

US President Donald Trump also hinted on Tuesday (April 14) that fresh peace talks with Iran could take place in Pakistan “over the next two days."

Trump, while speaking to the New York Post, said, "You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there."

Adding, "It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job." Trump was referring to Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir.

The failed negotiations last week in Islamabad marked the first direct encounter between US and Iranian officials in over a decade, and the highest-level engagement since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

With inputs from agencies