New Delhi: U.S. officials reportedly warned Iran that Israel could attempt to assassinate two senior Iranian leaders involved in ongoing peace negotiations. According to media reports, Washington feared that such an attack could derail diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Negotiators Reportedly Targeted
The report said the U.S. administration was concerned that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could become potential targets.
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American officials reportedly believed that any assassination attempt against the two leaders would jeopardise the peace process and risk reigniting regional hostilities.
According to the report, the United States considered the threat serious enough to relay a warning to Tehran through regional intermediaries. Iranian authorities were reportedly urged to take additional security precautions for the two officials.
Warning Sent Through Channels
The report also claimed that U.S. officials had, as early as March, urged Israeli counterparts not to target Iran’s political leadership while diplomatic negotiations were underway.
The Trump administration reportedly favoured allowing the peace process to continue and viewed the safety of key negotiators as essential to achieving a diplomatic settlement.
Israel has not issued any official comment on the allegations.
According to the report, strategic differences gradually emerged between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran policy. While both countries initially shared similar objectives, U.S. officials later concluded that Iran’s political and military leadership was likely to remain in power in the near term.
Peace Talks At Risk
Washington subsequently shifted its focus toward a negotiated settlement rather than relying primarily on military options.
The report also claimed that even after the April ceasefire, U.S. officials remained concerned that senior Iranian leaders could still be targeted. Intelligence indicating a possible attack allegedly prompted additional security measures during Ghalibaf’s travel.
Analysts believe that the assassination of a key negotiator could have collapsed the ongoing peace process and significantly increased the risk of renewed military confrontation across the region.
Security experts say modern geopolitical conflicts increasingly involve intelligence operations, cyber activity and disinformation alongside conventional military action. They said reliable intelligence verification, secure communication systems and multi-layered protection are essential during sensitive diplomatic negotiations.
