US Warns Iran of Israeli Plot to Kill Negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Ghalibaf
US officials privately alerted Iran that Israel may have planned to assassinate top Iranian negotiators, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf. The warnings came amid ongoing peace talks in Islamabad, which produced a framework deal on June 17. The US feared such attacks would derail diplomacy and reignite conflict.
Where Sources Diverge
euronews mentions the April talks in Islamabad and the framework deal signed on 17 June, while other sources focus on the US-Israel tensions and the specific targets.
April talks in Islamabad, framework deal signed on 17 June
US feared assassinations would derail diplomacy and reignite conflict
US believed Israel plotted to assassinate Araghchi and Ghalibaf
US officials feared Israeli attempts to kill Araghchi and Ghalibaf would derail peace talks
Timelines
Sources
Iran's foreign minister corroborated US media reports that Washington warned Tehran Israel may have had its chief negotiators on a target list during April talks in Islamabad, the same talks that produced the framework deal signed on 17 June.
US officials privately alerted Iran that Israel might target top negotiators, including Foreign Minister Araghchi and Speaker Ghalibaf, during peace talks. Washington feared such assassinations would derail diplomacy and reignite conflict, urging Israel against targeting Iran's political leadership. These warnings highlight growing US-Israel differences on Iran policy, with the US favoring negotiation while Israel advocates a tougher stance.
According to the newspaper sources, when Washington learned about plans to assassinate the Iranian parliament speaker, it asked Israel to refrain from such attempts
Any Israeli attempt to kill Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister, or Mohammad Ghalibaf, the Parliament speaker, would have derailed peace talks, American officials feared.