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Supported

Published fact-check

Iranian State TV Denies Sending Delegation to Islamabad for US Peace Talks

Claim checked

“According to yesterday’s reporting, the Iranian delegation was expected to land in Islamabad on Tuesday morning. As of now, it’s approaching 13:00 and no Iranian regime delegation has departed for Islamabad, according to Iranian state TV.”

Published April 21, 2026 at 9:58 AM

Verdict

Supported

As of Tuesday afternoon, April 21, 2026, Iranian state media (IRIB) has explicitly denied that any diplomatic delegation has departed for or arrived in Islamabad. This contradicts earlier reports from international outlets like Al Jazeera and the New York Times that suggested a delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was expected to land Tuesday morning for high-stakes negotiations with US Vice President JD Vance.

8 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

The claim is supported by multiple reports citing Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, which issued a categorical denial stating that 'no Iranian diplomatic delegation—be it a primary or secondary team... has travelled to Islamabad.' While Pakistani officials and international media had reported expectations of a Tuesday morning arrival, the official Iranian stance remains that no such movement has occurred. This discrepancy highlights ongoing internal friction in Tehran between diplomatic efforts and hardline factions like the IRGC.

Source quality: The evidence includes direct reporting from the Associated Press and ANI News citing official statements from Iranian state television (IRIB) and Iranian officials, providing a clear contrast to the earlier speculative reporting.

Key checks

  • Iranian State TV Denial: Iranian state broadcaster IRIB issued a statement on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, asserting that 'no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad... so far,' dismissing reports that a team was en route for talks.

  • Expected Arrival vs. Reality: Earlier reports from Al Jazeera and the New York Times on April 20 indicated a delegation was expected Tuesday morning. However, by 13:00 local time on Tuesday, no such arrival had been confirmed by Tehran.

  • Internal Iranian Friction: Reports suggest the Iranian negotiating team has faced pressure from the IRGC to maintain a hardline stance, contributing to the delay or uncertainty of the delegation's travel despite a reported 'green light' from the Supreme Leader.

Confidence

High