United States officials reportedly believed that Israel may have been planning to kill two of Iran’s top negotiators while Washington was engaged in sensitive talks with Tehran to secure an interim peace agreement, according to New York Times report quoting current and former American officials.
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According to the report, US concerns centred on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, whose roles in ceasefire and peace negotiations made them key figures in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
American officials reportedly feared that any Israeli attempt to target the two leaders would derail negotiations and reignite the conflict.
As a precaution, the United States is said to have asked other countries in the region to warn Iran about the potential threat.
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The report stated that while US officials acknowledged the two senior figures could have been considered legitimate military targets during active hostilities, they believed such an operation after negotiations began in April would have jeopardised diplomatic progress.
According to the report, Israel’s strategy during the early stages of the conflict focused on eliminating Iran’s senior leadership.
It also claimed that officials viewed as more pragmatic, including Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi, were among those killed while diplomatic contacts with the United States were underway.
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The report further suggests that Washington and Israel gradually diverged in their objectives during the conflict. While the United States increasingly prioritised a negotiated settlement, Israel reportedly remained sceptical of ceasefire efforts and favoured continued pressure on Iran’s leadership.
According to the report, US and Iranian officials later reached a framework agreement in June aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and establishing a basis for future discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Israeli officials and commentators reportedly criticised the agreement, arguing that it fell short of Israel’s strategic objectives, including regime change, weakening Iran’s proxy groups, and significantly reducing Tehran’s missile capabilities.
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The report also cited a Wall Street Journal article stating that Israel had previously placed Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on a target list before temporarily removing them as the United States pursued negotiations with Iran.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the allegations. A US official said diplomatic contacts with Iran remain ongoing and reiterated that President Donald Trump wants the peace process to continue.
