U.S. officials harbored fears that Israel was planning to assassinate Iran's top negotiators during secret peace talks held earlier this spring, according to reports.
American authorities expressed alarm over Israel's potential plan to eliminate individuals crucial to ongoing negotiations with the administration. The reported Israeli strategy, which prioritized eliminating top Iranian commanders from the outset of a conflict, intensified concerns during delicate talks that began in April.
Concerns particularly focused on the potential targeting of Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the parliament. In response, the U.S. reportedly requested regional countries to warn Iran about Israel's potential plot.
U.S. officials were aware that Araghchi and Ghalibaf were considered prime targets by Israel, which harbored intentions of regime change in Iran. This presented a strategic divergence, as American military efforts concentrated on disabling Iran's naval assets and missile capabilities, while Israel pursued a more direct approach targeting political and military leadership.
Israel had already attributed responsibility for the deaths of other Iranian figures, including former foreign minister Kamal Kharazi and national security leader Ali Larijani, during earlier strikes. Araghchi and Ghalibaf had been instrumental in negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and a peace deal with the United States.
A significant breakthrough occurred in June when Washington and Tehran agreed on a framework deal intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and establish terms for further discussions on Iran's nuclear program. This agreement was met with disapproval in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu viewed it as failing to meet core war objectives, such as the collapse of Iran's government or the dismantling of its missile arsenal.
Israel expressed only reserved diplomatic support for the truce, fearing that the agreement would facilitate substantial sanctions relief for Iran, aiding in post-war reconstruction while leaving Iran's nuclear ambitions unaddressed.
According to reports, Ghalibaf had narrowly escaped assassination attempts by Israeli forces on two separate occasions. Araghchi and Ghalibaf had traveled to Lucerne, Switzerland, for talks with Vice President Vance and other American officials. "As the administration desperately tried to broker a deal, American officials watched with growing alarm as Israel prepared to potentially take out the very men holding the keys to the negotiations" (IMAGE6).
Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the succession of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, triggering the Middle East war. His son, Mojtaba, has succeeded him as supreme leader but has not yet appeared publicly. The upcoming funeral ceremony for Khamenei in Tehran is expected to draw large crowds and foreign dignitaries, with calls for a significant turnout to honor his memory and potentially avenge his death (IMAGE1).