The US administration has expressed serious concern over a possible Israeli plan to eliminate two key Iranian negotiators — the Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. According to The New York Times, American officials believe that such a move could derail delicate negotiations over a temporary peace agreement, which Washington is conducting with Tehran.
Washington believes that removing Qalibaf or Araqchi could completely derail the negotiating track launched back in April. Previously, Israeli authorities had considered both politicians to be “legitimate targets” as part of a campaign to topple Iran’s government. The US side fears that any attempt at an assassination after real talks have begun would lead to the resumption of hostilities.
Qalibaf, according to Iranian sources, has already twice survived an apparent attempt on his life. The first time was during the so-called “12-day war” in June 2025, and the second time during a recent conflict when Israel struck a secret hideout of top officials under a mountain. In both cases, the politician was pulled out from under the rubble.
Before Qalibaf’s planned visit to Islamabad to meet with US Vice President James David Vance, Iran’s security service requested assurances of safety. Through intermediaries — Pakistani and Qatari diplomats — Tehran was convinced that Israel would not carry out covert operations against the delegation.
The precautions were unprecedented: Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian aircraft carrying more than 70 officials for the entire journey to Islamabad and back up to the border. However, on the return route to Tehran, reports arrived about a possible Israeli attack — two fighter jets allegedly entered Iranian airspace from the west. The plane made an emergency landing in Mashhad, after which the delegation reached the capital by ground transport, taking about eight hours.
In response to the publication, Israeli officials said that “when Israel wants to eliminate someone, it does so.” Against the backdrop of these troubling signals, the US continues to fear that an attempt on Iranian negotiators would not only derail the current dialogue but also prevent the use of part of frozen Iranian funds to purchase essential goods — a step that could pave the way for a broader settlement.
Comments on the news
- Who is Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and how does his past in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and as mayor of Tehran affect his role as a negotiator? — Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is an Iranian politician and a former aviation commander in the IRGC, who served as mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017. His military background gives him authority among conservative circles and enables him to understand the security dimension. His experience managing a megacity brings skills in bureaucratic compromise. As a negotiator, he combines toughness (his ties to the IRGC) with pragmatism (successful infrastructure projects), allowing him to work with both conservatives and reformists. However, he also faces distrust from Western partners due to his connections to the IRGC, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization.
- What is the “12-day war” in June 2025 mentioned in the article, and why did it become a turning point for the security of Iranian officials? — This question cannot be addressed, as the available reliable sources contain no information about a “12-day war” in June 2025. It may be a reference to a hypothetical or unverified scenario, so it is impossible to provide a substantiated answer.
- What specific Iranian funds are frozen abroad, and how could unlocking them help ease a humanitarian crisis and negotiations? — The discussion concerns Iranian assets totaling about $6–7 billion, blocked in banks in South Korea, Iraq, and several European countries due to US sanctions. The funds are frozen as part of restrictions on oil exports and currency transactions. Unlocking them would allow Iran to import medicines, food, and medical equipment, easing the humanitarian situation for the population. In negotiations, this could become a “goodwill gesture” from the US to build trust for discussing a nuclear deal, but the US fears that the funds could be redirected to military programs.
Full version: نيويورك تايمز: واشنطن تخشى خطط إسرائيل لاغتيال المفاوضين الإيرانيين