US Warned Iran That Israel Planned to Kill Key Negotiators

The United States indirectly warned Iran that Israel might assassinate its top negotiators to derail fragile peace talks, according to multiple reports. American officials feared Israel would target Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, considered pragmatic interlocutors for a deal Source: CNN, La Vanguardia. The warnings were relayed through intermediaries such as Pakistan and Qatar Source: El Español.

The Warning

US intelligence indicated that Israel had included Ghalibaf and Araghchi on a target list Source: La Vanguardia. Washington asked Israel to remove them, but distrusted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intentions Source: El Español. “If they kill them, we lose the pragmatists,” a US official said Source: El Español.

The Threat

During return from April peace talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance in Islamabad, Ghalibaf's plane was forced to emergency land in Mashhad after two Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace Source: La Vanguardia, El Español. The delegation completed the journey to Tehran by road, escorted by Pakistani fighter jets Source: Euronews. Ghalibaf had survived two previous Israeli assassination attempts, including a bunker attack Source: El Español. Araghchi later stated on Iranian TV, “We are Iranians, we do not fear dying for our nation” Source: Euronews.

The Division

The episode exposed deep US-Israel rifts. The Trump administration sought a negotiated end to the war, while Netanyahu's government opposed talks and aimed to topple the Iranian regime Source: La Vanguardia. Trump had previously complained that Israeli actions complicated negotiations Source: CNN.