A U.S. official and an Iranian official with knowledge of the matter have revealed that the United States government raised concerns that Israel might attempt to assassinate Iran’s negotiators during recent ceasefire talks. Tehran was reportedly warned about the potential threat through intermediaries to ensure the safety of its delegation.
The apprehension within the Trump administration surfaced during pivotal discussions held in April and May, which were intended to de-escalate the conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran. Sources indicated that Washington feared Israel had plans to target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Iranian parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Both individuals have served as central figures in negotiations alongside U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump.
Israel has a well-documented history of penetrating the security apparatus of the Iranian regime and targeting high-ranking military and government officials. During the initial weeks of the conflict, U.S. and Israeli officials noted that while American air raids concentrated on military assets such as Iran’s missile arsenal, Israeli operations frequently targeted senior members of the regime. In March, President Trump remarked that several Iranian officials whom Washington had previously viewed as more pragmatic had been killed in airstrikes, stating, “Most of the people we had in mind are dead.”
The relationship between the Trump administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been marked by friction regarding war objectives and negotiation strategies. Trump has publicly criticized Israel for its ongoing military actions in Lebanon, where strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group have continued despite multiple ceasefire agreements. These actions have repeatedly risked derailing peace negotiations, leading U.S. officials to publicly disavow certain Israeli operations.
Vice President JD Vance has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israeli hard-liners, openly accusing them of launching personal attacks on President Trump. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Vance directly addressed members of Netanyahu’s Cabinet, warning that they could not simply kill their way out of national security challenges. Neither the White House nor the office of the involved parties provided immediate comment when contacted regarding these developments. Dan De Luce, a reporter for the NBC News investigative unit, has covered these ongoing investigative developments.
