Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jul 3: The United States reportedly asked several Middle Eastern countries to warn Iran about possible Israeli assassination attempts targeting two of its senior leaders, fearing such attacks could derail the ceasefire negotiations and reignite the conflict, according to The New York Times.

The report said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were among the officials believed to have been on Israel's target list during the conflict. While Israeli forces initially considered them legitimate military targets, US officials reportedly opposed any such action after ceasefire negotiations began in April.

According to the report, Washington urged regional governments to alert Tehran about the alleged threat, believing that the killing of either leader would jeopardise ongoing diplomatic efforts and push both sides back into war.

US officials told The New York Times that Israel's early military campaign focused on eliminating Iran's senior leadership. However, as negotiations gathered pace, Washington shifted its priority towards preserving the fragile peace process and preventing any action that could undermine it.

Araghchi and Ghalibaf have been central to discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire and advancing broader negotiations between the US and Iran, including talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Tehran's nuclear programme.

According to The Wall Street Journal, both leaders remained on Israel's target list until the US intervened, urging that they be removed after diplomatic talks commenced.

The report also claimed that Ghalibaf narrowly escaped assassination twice since 2025. In the latest incident, Iranian intelligence allegedly intercepted information suggesting Israel planned to target the aircraft carrying him after talks with US Vice President JD Vance. The plane reportedly made an emergency landing in Mashhad before Ghalibaf travelled by road to Tehran.

Despite the reported threats, both Ghalibaf and Araghchi have continued participating in diplomatic efforts, travelling to Qatar and Switzerland in recent months for peace negotiations.

The reports underscore growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv over Iran, with the US seeking to sustain negotiations while Israel has remained sceptical of any agreement that falls short of its broader strategic objectives.