Key facts
- The Trump administration warned Iran of a potential Israeli plot to assassinate negotiators.
- Key figures on the target list included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
- US officials feared such an attack would derail ongoing peace and ceasefire negotiations.
- Washington alerted Tehran through regional governments and urged Israel not to proceed with strikes.
- An incident occurred where Ghalibaf's flight was diverted due to suspected Israeli fighter jets near Iranian airspace.
The Trump administration alerted Iran through regional governments about a potential Israeli plot to assassinate key negotiators, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during ceasefire negotiations in April. US officials feared that such an attack would derail diplomatic efforts and risk reigniting conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
According to reports citing current and former American officials, Washington learned that at least Ghalibaf was on an Israeli target list and urged Israel not to proceed with any strike. The US believed that while Araghchi and Ghalibaf might be considered legitimate military targets during active conflict, any attack after negotiations began would jeopardize diplomatic progress.
Iranian officials sought assurances from the US, via Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries, that their negotiators would be safe during diplomatic engagements. One specific incident cited involved Ghalibaf's flight returning from Islamabad being diverted after Iranian security officials detected what they believed were Israeli fighter jets entering Iranian airspace.