Israeli jets entered Iran to attack negotiator plane after Islamabad talks, NYT reports
Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/03/2026 - 04:37
Washington warned Tehran that Israel could target Araghchi as Ghalibaf's plane made emergency landing
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi aboard a flight to Zurich ahead of negotiations on 21 June 2026 (AFP)
Off Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace as Tehran's top negotiators were engaged in diplomatic efforts with the United States, according to a New York Times report that says American officials feared Israel was plotting to kill two senior Iranian officials involved in peace negotiations.
US officials became increasingly concerned that Israel could target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on their return to Iran after peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan in April, the report published on Wednesday said.
According to the New York Times, Washington was concerned that an Israeli assassination attempt could derail the talks and it asked regional countries to warn Iran about the potential threat.
"Any attempt to kill the Iranian leaders would end the talks and reignite the fighting," American officials told the newspaper.
While Washington was increasingly focused on securing a ceasefire and a diplomatic framework, Israel remained sceptical of negotiations that fall short of its broader war aims.
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The New York Times reported that concerns peaked during negotiations that began in earnest in April, when Araghchi and Ghalibaf emerged as key interlocutors in talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and laying the groundwork for a longer-term agreement.
A US official and a Middle East official told the newspaper that the Trump administration learned that Ghalibaf was on an Israeli targeting list and asked Israel to refrain from any action against him.
Iranian officials quoted by the newspaper said Tehran also sought assurances from Washington, through Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries, that Israel would not target members of the Iranian negotiating team.
The concerns were deepened during an April trip to Islamabad, where Ghalibaf was scheduled to meet US Vice President JD Vance.
According to the report, Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian delegation's aircraft to and from Islamabad because of fears that Israel could attempt to assassinate senior Iranian officials.
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On the return journey, Iranian security services informed the aircraft carrying Ghalibaf that intelligence indicated Israel was preparing an attack and that two Israeli fighter jets had entered Iranian airspace from the western border near Iraq, the newspaper reported, citing Iranian officials.
Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Ghalibaf who accompanied the delegation, confirmed the account on social media.
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The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Mashhad, and members of the delegation completed the journey to Tehran by land, travelling for approximately eight hours, the newspaper said.
"Today Mr Ghalibaf and Mr Araghchi, and other members of the negotiating team, have put their lives on the line knowing the grave security risks and this is called a real sacrifice, not political manoeuvring," Iranian lawmaker Mohsen Zanganeh told local media in April.
The newspaper reported that while the United States pursued negotiations that ultimately led to a framework agreement in June, Israeli officials viewed the emerging deal as insufficient because it did not achieve objectives such as regime change in Iran, dismantling Tehran's regional allies and significantly degrading its missile capabilities.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment to the newspaper on the allegations.
Asked about the reported warnings to Iran, a US official told the New York Times that President Donald Trump wanted the peace process "to play out" and noted that talks between American and Iranian delegations were continuing.
Despite the reported threats, Araghchi and Ghalibaf continued travelling for negotiations, including meetings in Qatar and a subsequent round of talks in Switzerland in June with Vance and other members of the US delegation, according to the report.
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