Iran hints at desperate US assassination bid as Araghchi, Ghalibaf leave Pakistan under threat?

Social media is now a new battlefield in the U.S.-Iran standoff, with users voicing alarm over the personal safety of Tehran’s negotiators after marathon talks in Islamabad collapsed without a deal. Posts and threads speculate about possible assassination threats and claim that extraordinary security precautions, including decoy aircraft, were used to shield senior Iranian officials during and after the 21‑hour meeting. These online fears echo warnings from Iran’s foreign ministry, whose spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei accused elements in U.S. policy and media circles of openly inciting violence against Iranian leaders if diplomacy failed. The delegation in Islamabad included key figures Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, underscoring how high the stakes were for Tehran. After the talks, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said discussions were held “in good faith” but confirmed that Washington’s “final and best offer” was rejected, particularly on nuclear guarantees. Donald Trump, meanwhile, adopted a defiant tone, insisting that the U.S. has already “won” militarily, regardless of whether a peace deal is reached, further fueling mistrust and anxiety on all sides.