By Ginika Igboke
U.S. officials grew concerned during recent ceasefire negotiations that Israel might attempt to assassinate senior Iranian officials involved in talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to both an American official and an Iranian official familiar with the matter.
The concern emerged during high-stakes negotiations in April and May, when Washington was working through intermediaries to secure a ceasefire agreement and begin a broader diplomatic process with Tehran.
According to the officials, the Trump administration feared that Israeli intelligence or military planners could target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, both of whom were central figures in negotiations with U.S. representatives.
Key Iranian Negotiators Were Seen as Potential Targets
Araghchi and Ghalibaf have played major roles in Iran’s diplomatic engagement with the United States.
They have been deeply involved in discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The negotiations began in April and eventually produced an initial ceasefire arrangement, followed by a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran last month.
While talks are continuing in an effort to establish a longer-term peace agreement, several major disputes remain unresolved, including security guarantees, regional military activity, and the future of Iran’s strategic capabilities.
Washington Used Intermediaries to Alert Tehran
One of the officials said the United States communicated its concerns to Iran through intermediaries rather than through direct diplomatic channels.
The warning was intended to ensure that Iranian negotiators were aware of what Washington viewed as a possible threat environment surrounding the talks.
The report of the administration’s concerns was first published by The New York Times.
Israel Rejects the Allegation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office strongly denied the claim.
In a statement posted on social media, the office said:
“As usual, The New York Times’ latest story about Israel and the Iranian negotiators is fake news. A complete fabrication of reality.”
When asked for additional comment, Netanyahu’s office referred reporters back to the public statement.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the reported warning.
Israel Has a History of Targeting Iranian Officials
Israel has long conducted covert operations against Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, and senior government officials.
Israeli intelligence agencies have repeatedly demonstrated the ability to penetrate Iran’s security apparatus, and numerous high-ranking Iranian figures have been killed in operations attributed to Israel over the past two decades.
During the early stages of the recent conflict, U.S. airstrikes focused primarily on military infrastructure, including missile facilities and weapons stockpiles, while Israel concentrated on senior members of Iran’s political and military leadership, according to American and Israeli officials.
Trump Previously Said Potential Negotiators Had Been Killed
In March, President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged that several Iranian officials whom Washington had considered possible negotiating partners had been killed during the conflict.
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump said at the time.
The remark underscored the difficulty the administration faced in maintaining diplomatic channels while military operations were ongoing.
Tensions Between Washington and Netanyahu
The issue also highlighted broader disagreements between the Trump administration and Netanyahu’s government over the objectives of the war and the pace of diplomacy.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Israel for continuing military operations in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have continued striking the Iran-backed Hezbollah despite multiple ceasefire arrangements.
American officials have worried that those attacks could derail the broader peace process with Iran.
On several occasions, Trump and senior administration officials publicly distanced themselves from Israeli actions and urged Netanyahu to avoid steps that might jeopardize negotiations.
Intelligence Assessments Warned of Further Escalation
Last month, U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly concluded that Israel was likely to continue military operations against Hezbollah, raising concerns that additional strikes could further destabilize the diplomatic effort.
According to a source familiar with the assessments, analysts believed that continued escalation in Lebanon could complicate negotiations with Tehran and make a lasting agreement more difficult to achieve.
JD Vance Emerges as a Critic of Israeli Hard-Liners
Vice President JD Vance has become one of the administration’s most outspoken critics of Israeli hard-line policies.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Vance accused some Israeli officials and allies of launching personal attacks against Trump and argued that military force alone cannot resolve every security challenge.
Addressing members of Netanyahu’s Cabinet, Vance said:
“You can’t just kill your way out of solving every single national security problem that you have.”
Fragile Peace Process Continues
Despite the tensions, negotiations between the United States and Iran remain active.
The ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year significantly reduced direct hostilities, and the memorandum of understanding signed last month established a framework for continued talks.
However, officials on both sides acknowledge that the path toward a durable peace remains uncertain.
The reported U.S. warning about possible threats to Iranian negotiators illustrates how fragile the process has become, with diplomacy proceeding alongside deep mistrust, regional military operations, and competing agendas among the parties involved.
Original article
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