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NYT: U.S. Officials Believed Netanyahu Government Targeted Foreign Minister and Parliament Speaker While America Pushed for Peace
While the Trump administration was engaged in delicate negotiations to end the 2026 Iran War, U.S. officials believed Israel was simultaneously plotting to assassinate the men sitting across the table.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that American intelligence flagged an Israeli plan to kill Iran’s top negotiators during the spring ceasefire talks — specifically Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
The plot was not theoretical. According to the Jerusalem Post, U.S. officials were so alarmed they reached out to other Middle Eastern countries to warn Iran of the danger. The Trump administration directly asked Israel not to target Ghalibaf. When Ghalibaf flew to Islamabad to meet with Vice President JD Vance, Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian delegation from the border and back.
Ghalibaf had already survived two Israeli assassination attempts — once during the 12-day war in June 2025, and again during this year’s conflict.
This is the “ally” the American taxpayer funds to the tune of two-thirds of its defensive weapons. While Trump’s envoys were in Qatar trying to prevent a wider war, Israel was reportedly trying to detonate the negotiating table itself.
The dead of Gaza. The sabotage of peace talks. The targeting of diplomats.
At what point does Washington call this what it is?
