NYT: US feared Israel could target Araghchi, Ghalibaf during nuclear talks

U.S. officials believed Israel may have been planning to assassinate two of Iran's top negotiators while Washington was engaged in sensitive talks with Tehran this spring aimed at securing an interim agreement, according to current and former American officials cited by The New York Times.

The concerns reportedly centered on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, whose potential targeting was seen by U.S. officials as a threat to the negotiations that began in April.

According to the NYT, Israel had considered killing senior Iranian leaders as part of its broader wartime strategy. However, U.S. officials feared that any attempt to assassinate Araghchi or Ghalibaf during the diplomatic process would derail the talks and risk reigniting the conflict.

The issue became particularly acute ahead of a planned meeting in April between Ghalibaf and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. Iranian officials, concerned about a possible assassination attempt, sought assurances through intermediaries that Israel would not carry out such an operation.

According to The New York Times, the United States went so far as to ask other countries in the region to warn Iran about the possibility that Israel could target the two officials, in an effort to prevent the negotiations from collapsing.

Iranian aircraft reportedly escorted Pakistani fighter jets carrying the delegation to the meeting and on the return journey. During the flight back, an alleged threat of an Israeli attack prompted the aircraft to make an emergency landing, after which the delegation continued its journey overland.

By Sabina Mammadli