United States officials expressed concern that Israel viewed cease-fire negotiations as a window of opportunity to assassinate top Iranian negotiators, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times. Washington feared such strikes would reignite regional conflict, leading U.S. officials to reach out to other Middle Eastern countries to warn Iran about threats to Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
U.S. concerns during cease-fire talks
The U.S. government became increasingly alarmed that Israel might target high-level Iranian officials during diplomatic discussions that began in April. While the elimination of senior leadership was a stated Israeli objective at the outset of the war—which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei—U.S. officials grew concerned that further attempts on the lives of Iranian negotiators would reignite the fighting. According to the report, the U.S. reached out to other Middle Eastern nations to pass warnings to Tehran regarding the safety of Ghalibaf and Araghchi.
A history of targeted strikes
The apprehension in Washington followed a pattern of Israeli operations against Iranian officials involved in diplomatic channels. The New York Times reported that early in the war, Israel killed two officials involved in negotiations with the US: Ali Larijani, Iran’s top national security official, and Kamal Kharazi, a former Iranian foreign minister. Reports from the Wall Street Journal in March indicated that while Ghalibaf and Araghchi had been on an Israeli target list, they were removed as talks between the US and Iran were discussed. A U.S. official and a Middle Eastern official told The New York Times that the Trump administration played an active role in at least Ghalibaf’s removal from that list by directly asking Israel not to target him.
Escalation and the Islamabad incident
Despite diplomatic efforts, Ghalibaf remained a target. He was almost killed during the 12-day war in June 2025 and during the 2026 war, needing to be rescued from beneath rubble in both incidents. In April, while Ghalibaf was traveling to Islamabad to meet with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, he was targeted again. To ensure his safety, Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian delegation’s aircraft. On the return flight to Tehran, Iranian security forces reported detecting two Israeli fighter jets that had entered Iranian airspace near the Iraq border with the intent to attack. The plane executed an emergency landing near the border, and the delegation completed the journey to the capital by land.
Potential implications for future diplomacy
The intelligence reports regarding the attempted interception of Ghalibaf’s plane suggest that the volatile security environment may continue to hinder diplomatic progress. If intelligence assessments of potential Israeli strikes persist, Iranian officials may limit foreign travel, which could further complicate direct negotiations. Analysts and observers may look to see if the U.S. continues its role as an intermediary for Iranian safety, or if the failure of security measures during the April flight prompts a shift in how Iran conducts high-level diplomatic meetings. Future rounds of talks may be contingent on the ability of involved parties to guarantee the safety of delegates in a conflict zone where top-tier officials remain frequent targets.
