Concerns Over Israeli Targeting of Iranian Negotiators
U.S. officials were worried that Israel might attempt to target two prominent Iranian negotiators amid sensitive peace talks earlier this spring. According to a report, such an attack could potentially derail ongoing diplomatic efforts and reignite conflict.
Details from the report, citing current and former U.S. officials, indicate that since negotiations intensified in April, Washington has been particularly concerned about the safety of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
U.S. officials believed that attacking these figures could severely disrupt the negotiations and trigger renewed hostilities. This concern prompted the U.S. government to ask regional allies to discreetly inform Tehran about potential threats to these officials, despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the Trump administration.
The report also illustrates a growing divergence between U.S. diplomatic goals and Israeli military ambitions during the conflict. Initially, the two nations coordinated military actions against Iran after the conflict began on February 28. However, as the Trump administration sought an interim agreement, Israeli officials remained skeptical about halting hostilities without achieving more extensive objectives related to Iran’s military infrastructure.
According to the report, targeting Iran’s leadership has been central to Israel’s military strategy since the conflict’s onset. U.S. officials admitted that targeting Araghchi and Ghalibaf could have been considered acceptable earlier in the conflict. Still, they concluded that striking these officials during negotiations would likely obliterate any hope for diplomacy.
Previous reports suggested that Israel had already targeted Iranian officials regarded as potential negotiators by Washington, including Iran’s national security adviser and a former foreign minister, both of whom were killed during the conflict.
The report also highlights existing tensions between Washington and Jerusalem regarding the negotiations. In March, it came to light that Araghchi and Ghalibaf were initially on Israel’s target list but were removed as diplomatic discussions gained momentum. Further, U.S. officials later advised Israel against targeting Ghalibaf, indicating a shift in priority.
Throughout negotiations, security concerns over the Iranian delegation remained elevated. Before Ghalibaf went to Islamabad to meet with Vice President Vance in April, Iranian officials sought assurances through intermediaries that their delegation members would not be targeted.
During this journey, Pakistani military aircraft escorted an Iranian plane carrying over 70 individuals to Islamabad. However, on their return, Iranian security reportedly warned Ghalibaf’s team of potential Israeli attacks after Israeli fighter jets allegedly entered Iranian airspace. Consequently, the flight was rerouted to Mashhad, and they returned to Tehran via an overland journey lasting about eight hours.
Despite these serious concerns, both Araghchi and Ghalibaf continued to engage in negotiations and also traveled to Qatar and Switzerland for further discussions with U.S. officials.
These revelations come as the U.S. and Iran work towards a broader agreement following a recent memorandum aimed at ceasing hostilities and laying the groundwork for discussions concerning Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump expressed optimism regarding these negotiations, claiming that Iran had accepted “almost all our demands,” while maintaining that the U.S. stands prepared to respond militarily if Iran poses a renewed threat to regional stability or international maritime navigation.
However, diplomatic initiatives still face significant challenges. This week, Iranian officials persistently rejected international calls for reinstating UN nuclear inspections, reaffirmed their authority over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz despite U.S. opposition, and cautioned against any new military actions ahead of the funeral for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed alongside numerous Iranian military and regime officials in the initial assault that triggered Operation Epic Fury, scheduled for this weekend.
