US Warns Tehran That Israel's 'Killing Instinct' May Target Iranian Negotiators

The United States attempted to warn Iran this spring about concerns that Israel might kill Iranian negotiators during talks, according to a report by The New York Post on Friday, citing two US officials. According to the officials, the US was worried that Israel could target Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key figure in the negotiations, or Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who also plays a significant role. The officials conveyed the warning through intermediaries. As of Friday, there were no immediate signs that US intelligence possessed information about a specific assassination plot underlying the warning. However, Israel’s top defence officials have publicly expressed support for killing senior Iranian leaders. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has previously stated that such actions complicate the negotiation process. In March, Trump declined to identify the Iranian party negotiating with the US, stating he did not want them to become targets for assassination, adding that the situation was complicated. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office denied the New York Times report, calling it ‘fake news’ and a fabrication entirely inconsistent with reality.