As President Donald Trump advanced efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution with Iran, senior U.S. officials grew increasingly concerned that Israeli actions could derail peace talks by targeting Tehran’s top negotiators.
Multiple sources indicate the administration took unprecedented steps to warn Iran that assassination attempts against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were possible during ceasefire negotiations.
U.S. officials warned that eliminating these two senior Iranian figures would remove the only remaining channels capable of reaching agreements with Washington, jeopardizing efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Tehran’s nuclear program.
One administration official cautioned that “you kill those folks and you’re killing the pragmatists,” highlighting concerns such actions could strengthen hardliners within Iran rather than advance peace.
The reports underscore deepening tensions between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over their ultimate objectives in the conflict. While both nations initially sought to cripple Iran’s military following hostilities, Washington has increasingly prioritized diplomatic solutions after Iran sustained major combat losses.
U.S. officials reportedly urged Israel to remove Araghchi and Ghalibaf from assassination target lists as negotiations accelerated this spring. American officials also relied on Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries to reassure Tehran during talks.
The White House maintained its commitment to diplomacy, with one official stating that “the president wants the peace process to play out,” while another cited productive meetings involving special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner in Qatar.
Israeli officials expressed skepticism about the emerging U.S.-Iran framework agreement, arguing it falls short of Israel’s goals for regime change, dismantling Iran’s proxy network, and permanently eliminating Tehran’s missile capabilities.
The reports also detailed extraordinary security measures during negotiations. During one trip to Pakistan, Iranian officials reportedly feared Israeli strikes so intensely that Pakistani fighter jets escorted the delegation’s aircraft. Upon returning home, Iranian intelligence warned of a potential attack, prompting an emergency landing and an hours-long overland journey back to Tehran.
These developments highlight the delicate balancing act facing the Trump administration as it seeks to preserve fragile diplomatic progress while maintaining close ties with Israel, one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East.
