New Delhi, Apr 15: It was a high-security risk for the Iranian delegation to return home from Islamabad, as they faced potential threats of attack from Israel and other hostile groups.
Under the shadow of heightened regional tensions, extensive precautions were taken to ensure their safe passage back to Tehran, reflecting the fragile and volatile security environment following the failed negotiations.
The delegation reportedly adopted a complex, multi-layered travel strategy – switching aircraft mid-route and using a combination of train and road transport – to avoid detection and minimize the risk of any aerial or covert strike.
The elaborate measures underscored the volatile security environment surrounding the failed talks and the perceived threats facing Iran’s top leadership, Lebanon based Al- Mayadeen newspaper reported.
The Iranian delegation faced urgent security threats on Monday while en route to Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire negotiation talks with the United States, Prof Mohammad Marandi, who accompanied the delegation, told the Lebanese news outlet that they were warned of a potential attack on their aircraft, prompting heightened caution during and after the visit.
On the way back to Tehran after talks ended, the group took an alternative route “after confirming that the delegation was under attack,” he said.
Marandi said the aircraft was diverted from its original route and landed in Mashhad in Iran, after which the delegation continued to Tehran by train, car and bus.
He said the move was taken following security warnings.
“We received direct threats and credible intelligence indicating that the Iranian delegation’s plane to Islamabad could be attacked,” Marandi said.
He said that the return journey was altered after the alert.
“The plane changed its route, landed in Mashhad, and the delegation was transferred by train and vehicles to Tehran,” Marandi said.
He also pointed to the timing of the development, linking it to broader diplomatic tensions.
“Negotiations ended very abruptly… and that it was simultaneous with the opinion piece in the Washington Post,” Marandi said, adding that it was “very close to the CIA”.
After talks with the United States delegation, led by Vice President J D Vance, collapsed, the delegation decided to return home despite high security risk.
Everyone boarded the aircraft and no one wanted to stay back in Islamabad.
