Iran is not currently planning negotiations with the US.

The opinion piece in the Washington Post of April 8, three days before the negotiations in Islamabad, did not receive the media attention it deserved.

In a series of points where the vision of a military solution to the conflict was presented to a broad international audience, the author, Marc A. Thiessen, writes:

“Fourth, carry out a final barrage of leadership strikes, eliminating the Iranian officials who had been spared for the purpose of negotiations. Iran’s leaders must be made to understand that their lives literally depend on reaching a negotiated settlement to Trump’s liking. If they refuse to do so, they will be killed.”

A member of the Iranian delegation, Syed Mohammad Marandi, reported that the delegation knew of this article and had received “direct threats and credible intelligence indicating that the Iranian delegation’s plane to Islamabad could be attacked.”

The Iranian delegation of approximately 70 individuals, including senior officials, was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Marandi claimed the team altered its return journey by landing in Mashhad and returning to Tehran via alternative means, including overland transport (train, car, bus) to avoid a potential shoot-down upon learning of this article, they returned to Iran separately via other routes, including overland. The fear of assassination persists, as does the fear of the complete destruction of infrastructure.

Of course this has not been independently verified.

A few hours before the end of the ceasefire, President Trump still issues threats of annihilation in case there will be no deal upon Trump’s conditions.

So what is the point of negotiations under the pressure of massive blackmail?

21 April 2026 @ 10:21 UTC+2.

Last modified April 21, 2026.