Tehran confirmed press reports that the United States had warned Iran that Israel had attempted to eliminate officials who later reached the June ceasefire framework agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi put an end to months of speculation in a television interview on Friday: he confirmed that Israel had targeted him and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf during talks in Islamabad in April. The diplomat said Washington had informed Tehran about the planned Israeli operation in good time through indirect channels.
A risky mission for peace
The talks in Islamabad, mediated by US Vice President JD Vance, were crucial in the signing of the Iran-US framework agreement on June 17. The security risk was reportedly so high that the Pakistani Air Force had to provide fighter jets to escort the Iranian delegation. On the return trip, the Iranian plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Mashhad due to an Israeli threat, and the delegation was only able to reach the capital in a convoy of vehicles.
Araghchi reacted defiantly to what happened in the interview: "We are Iranians, we are not afraid of death for our country. The cowards are attacking from behind, and we went to Pakistan for the peace of the region."„
A new era after the February shocks
The open war that broke out on February 28, in which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was also killed, has drastically transformed the balance of power in the Middle East. The current 60-day ceasefire indicates exhaustion on both sides, but distrust remains. Washington and Tehran have not had direct diplomatic relations since 1980, making it difficult to exchange security information, and warnings must be passed on through regional allies.
Israel is silent, negotiations continue
The Israeli government and the US State Department have not yet commented on the reports of the assassination plot. Analysts say the incident clearly illustrates the gap in US-Israeli relations: while Israel seeks a complete military victory and the elimination of Iranian leaders, the US administration's priority is to restore regional stability and freeze the conflict.
The two countries are currently working on the details of the framework agreement signed on June 17, with the aim of reaching a more lasting settlement after the 60-day ceasefire expires - provided that the parties' security policy considerations do not override diplomatic achievements.
