US officials believed Israel planned to kill Iranian negotiators amid peace talks - report

US officials harbored concerns that Israel might have intended to assassinate top Iranian negotiators during ongoing peace talks, according to a New York Times report. The specific worry centered on potential targeting of Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

These fears arose despite Israel having previously removed Ghalibaf and Araghchi from a target list, a move reportedly influenced by US requests. The Trump administration, in particular, had actively asked Israel not to target Ghalibaf. However, US officials remained vigilant, fearing that any attempt on Iranian leaders' lives could reignite the conflict that began with joint US-Israeli strikes.

As a precaution, US officials alerted other Middle Eastern nations to warn Iran about the potential threat to Ghalibaf and Araghchi. This concern was heightened by past Israeli actions, including the earlier killings of Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi, both involved in negotiations with the US. Ghalibaf himself had narrowly escaped death twice, requiring rescue from rubble in separate incidents.