The United States reportedly warned Iran about alleged Israeli plans to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The report, published by The New York Times, suggests that relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already been strained before reports emerged that Trump had sharply rebuked Netanyahu during a phone call last month.
Citing several officials in Washington, The New York Times reported that the US had alerted Iran in April about what it believed were Israeli plans to target Araghchi and Ghalibaf. According to the report, some US officials believed that Israel was considering assassinating the two Iranian leaders in the weeks following the first ceasefire on April 8, amid concerns that they were key participants in Iran’s nuclear negotiations with Washington.
The report said that previous assassinations of senior Iranian figures had heightened concerns that such a plan could be carried out.
According to the report, US officials said Israel had allegedly planned to target Ghalibaf while he was returning to Tehran from Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 12 after holding discussions with US Vice President JD Vance. The officials reportedly informed Iran that two Israeli fighter jets had entered Iranian airspace via Iraq and were allegedly preparing to target Ghalibaf’s aircraft on its return flight.
The report added that Ghalibaf abandoned his planned route to Tehran and instead made an emergency landing in the northern city of Mashhad.
The report also suggested that differences had already emerged within the coalition involved in military operations against Iran. It noted that the United States was unwilling to include Israel in the peace negotiations. Although Israel was involved in the conflict, the reported agreement was signed only by the US and Iran.
According to the report, Washington continued pursuing the agreement and peace talks despite Netanyahu’s public opposition, reflecting growing strains in US-Israel relations.
It also said the United States had strongly criticised Israel for continuing military operations in Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement. Trump reportedly warned Netanyahu that the attacks had caused significant casualties and urged Israel to act with greater restraint.
Separate reports had earlier claimed that, during a telephone conversation, Trump referred to Netanyahu as "crazy.”