On July 2, 2026, the New York Times reported that Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace while Tehran’s senior negotiators were flying home from peace talks in Islamabad, triggering emergency security protocols and sending a chill through diplomatic channels.
The two officials in question were Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, both returning from US-Iran negotiations facilitated by Pakistan. American officials, according to the Times, grew increasingly worried that Israel was actively plotting to kill them mid-flight.
What actually happened on the ground
The Iranian delegation in Islamabad numbered over 70 members. Pakistani fighter jets provided escort during their departure.
Israeli jets reportedly entered Iranian airspace from the west, near the Iraqi border. Ghalibaf’s plane made an emergency landing in Mashhad before the delegation continued the rest of the journey to Tehran overland. His adviser confirmed the incident publicly on social media.
