Iranian negotiating delegation member Mohammad Marandi stated that after talks with the United States in Islamabad, the delegation’s aircraft was exposed to a security threat, which forced it to change its planned route.
Marandi said the Iranian delegation was unable to return directly to Iran due to the perceived threat and was therefore forced to adjust its travel route, ultimately reaching Tehran via Mashhad.
The allegation of a possible attempt targeting the Iranian delegation surfaced after Iran–U.S. talks in Islamabad, held under Pakistan’s mediation, reportedly ended without any results.
Analysts note that Pakistan, which aimed to pose itself as a key diplomatic hub in the region, is now facing criticism not only over the lack of progress in the negotiations but also over alleged security shortcomings.
Beyond the security concerns, the failure of the Islamabad talks is also viewed as a setback for Pakistan’s mediation efforts and its broader diplomatic standing.
Analysts stressed that while Pakistan has sought to present itself as a regional political and economic hub, the outcome of the Islamabad talks revealed neither adequate security assurances nor concrete diplomatic progress.