New York Times: The US informed Iran about an Israeli plan targeting Iranian negotiators

According to The New York Times, the relationship between the US and Israel has entered a new phase. Citing its sources, the newspaper writes that Israel had drawn up a plan to eliminate the two Iranian representatives, Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Ghalibaf, while negotiations were under way to bring the conflict to an end.

According to the same outlet, after the Americans learned of this scenario, they sent a warning to Tehran through intermediaries. This prompted the Islamic Republic to strengthen its security measures. During the conflict, Israel had made it clear that it considered regime figures legitimate targets, from political representatives to military leaders. So far, dozens of them have been killed, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself.

The strategy aimed to weaken the adversary by depriving it of its most prominent representative figures. A ceasefire was later agreed, which the Netanyahu government had opposed, as it remained determined to continue the attacks. It was precisely here, according to The New York Times, that even open clashes with the White House began.

Furthermore, the prestigious outlet continues, Tel Aviv had reportedly considered striking the key figures in the negotiations, with the aim of halting the dialogue and reigniting the war. In this context, it also recalls a well-known precedent: Hassan Salameh, a senior Palestinian official who had become a communication channel with the CIA and who was later killed by Mossad in Beirut in 1979. Concern grew especially over the meeting planned for April in Islamabad between US Vice President J.D. Vance and the Iranian delegation.

Alarmed by the situation, Tehran sought security guarantees from Pakistan. For this reason, Pakistani fighter jets escorted the plane carrying Araghchi and Ghalibaf, while after the talks ended, during the return flight, the security services received information that two Israeli fighter jets were approaching from Iraqi territory.