Iran's Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf invokes memories of Minab victims ahead of technical talks with US in Switzerland
Zurich, June 21
Iranian Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf invoked the memory of victims of the Minab school incident ahead of technical talks with the United States in Switzerland, saying their sacrifice would guide the actions of the Islamic Republic during the negotiations with Washington as part of the 14-point memorandum of understanding reached between the two sides to end the hostilities in West Asia.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said he, along with the Iranian delegation, carried the memory of the children of Minab and other Iranian martyrs with them as they prepared for the talks.
"I consider the innocent children of Minab and all the martyrs of dear Iran to be watching over my every action and behaviour at every moment. They see us and expect things of us. God forbid that I should ever bring shame to the innocent martyrs and the people of Iran," Ghalibaf wrote, adding the hashtag "Minab168" and dedicating the message to the memory of the children of Minab School.
The remarks came as Iran's negotiating delegation reached Zurich, Switzerland, for the first round of technical talks with the US following the signing of the MoU.
According to the Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iranian delegation is headed by Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi; Deputy for International Affairs at the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri; Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati; Deputy Oil Minister and National Iranian Oil Company Chairman Hamid Borde; Deputy Foreign Ministers Kazem Gharibabadi; and Spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baghaei, among other officials.
The delegation's visit is aimed at following up on the implementation of commitments made by the US as part of ongoing diplomatic understandings.
Esmaeil Baghaei, who is also the spokesperson for the negotiating delegation, said the talks would focus on ensuring that previously agreed commitments are fulfilled ahead of their departure.
"Every agreement and understanding is tested when the time comes for its implementation," Baghaei said, according to IRIB.
He further stressed that Iran would closely monitor compliance by the other side, citing what he described as previous instances of unfulfilled commitments.
"Given our experience of the other party's breach of promise, we must seriously pursue the fulfilment of their commitments," Esmaeil Baghaei added.
Following their arrival, Switzerland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) welcomed the Iranian delegation in the country, stating that the visit forms part of efforts to implement the MoU signed between the United States and Iran.
"We welcome the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Switzerland. The Iranian delegation is on its way to the Burgenstock as part of the implementation of the MoU signed between the United States and Iran," the Swiss MFA said in a post on X.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is a classic case of using emotional rhetoric to build domestic support before international talks. India has seen similar tactics during border negotiations. But what matters is whether the US will honor commitments this time. The Iranian delegation has experience with broken promises from Washington. Let's hope the Swiss venue brings some credibility to the process. 🤔
As someone who follows West Asian politics closely, I find Ghalibaf's statement about the innocent children of Minab quite moving. It shows that even in high-stakes diplomacy, human tragedy remains a powerful motivator. However, I am skeptical about the MoU's implementation. The US has a track record of walking away from agreements. Iran is right to be cautious. 👍
Interesting to see Iran using emotional appeal before technical talks. But from a Western perspective, this seems like deflection from the actual issues. The real test will be whether the MoU leads to verifiable de-escalation. Let's not forget that both sides have a lot to lose if this fails. 🌍
The Minab school incident is truly tragic, and using it as a moral anchor for talks is understandable. But as an Indian, I've seen how emotional rhetoric can sometimes overshadow practical diplomacy. The Iranian delegation is large and high-level - that signals seriousness. I just hope both sides focus on the 14-point MoU's implementation rather than political posturing. 🙏
Respectfully, I think invoking martyrs before technical talks is a bit heavy-handed. The focus should be on the details of the MoU, not on
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.