During secret peace talks between the United States and Iran earlier this year, Israeli authorities allegedly planned to assassinate senior Iranian representatives, according to US officials. The plan reportedly targeted Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Washington feared that such attacks would derail the fragile negotiations, prompting the US to warn Tehran through several Middle Eastern intermediaries.

The conflict began on February 28 when an Israeli airstrike, aided partly by US intelligence, killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. While the US initially shared Israel’s goal of weakening Iran’s leadership, their objectives diverged once peace discussions began in April. The US sought a ceasefire and eventual peace deal, while Israel opposed halting the war, aiming instead to topple Iran’s government.

Despite assassination threats, Araghchi and Ghalibaf continued diplomatic efforts, leading to a preliminary US-Iran agreement in June to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks. Israeli officials viewed the deal as a strategic setback, fearing it would strengthen Iran economically and militarily.