Senior Iranian officials have expressed concern that the United States’ call for peace talks to end the ongoing conflict may be a trap aimed at targeting Iran’s remaining top leaders. According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Iranian media, Tehran suspects that any face-to-face meeting with the US and Israel could be used as a pretext to lure key figures, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, into an ambush.

Ghalibaf, a former paramilitary commander and one of the few senior leaders to survive recent airstrikes, is reportedly being sought by Washington to participate in the proposed negotiations. Iranian officials view this insistence with suspicion. They also claim that US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement to temporarily suspend attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure is a tactical move to stabilize global oil prices before resuming strikes.

Trump had declared a five-day halt to bombings on Iranian power and energy facilities, describing current talks as “productive.” Iran, however, has publicly denied that any such discussions are taking place.