US asked regional allies to warn Iran of Israeli plot to kill negotiators: report
DUBAI: The US asked countries in the Middle East to warn Iran that Israel could target two of Tehran’s senior negotiators during sensitive ceasefire talks earlier this year, according to a report in The New York Times.
Washington feared Tel Aviv might attempt to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, derailing negotiations over an interim peace deal that began in April and potentially reigniting the conflict.
The concerns became significant enough that the US asked regional intermediaries to privately warn Tehran about the potential threat, according to the report in the Times on Thursday.
The warning underscored an emerging divergence between Washington and Israel over the objectives of the Iran war. While the US prioritized securing a negotiated settlement with Iran, Israel remained focused on weakening Tehran’s leadership and pursuing broader strategic goals, including regime change and curbing Iran’s regional influence.
