Israel attempted to kill Iran’s negotiators on their plane after talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded in Pakistan, The New York Times reported.
The attempt occurred in the air as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf were flying home to Tehran from talks in Pakistan, the outlet reported, citing anonymous U.S. officials. As the officials were en route flying home, Iran’s security forces notified the plane that two Israeli fighter jets had entered Iranian airspace with the intention of attacking it.
However, the plane was not shot down as it made an emergency landing in Mashhad, Iran’s closest airport to Pakistan, according to the Times. The diplomatic jet also had an escort from Pakistani fighter jets.
The Iranian diplomatic jet was carrying more than 70 other Iranian officials during the flight, the outlet reported.
The White House, the State Department and the Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israel had Araghchi and Ghalibaf on a list of targets to kill, but temporarily removed them from the list as the U.S. was conducting negotiations, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 25. Although it appears that removal did not last long, as the reported assassination attempt happened just a few months later.
U.S. officials were so concerned about Israel attempting an assassination attempt on the negotiators that the U.S. reportedly warned countries in the region of the possibility, according to the Times. After the assassination attempt, Araghchi and Ghalibaf had to travel eight hours on land to reach Tehran.
Despite this attempt, Iran’s negotiators have pushed forward to attend further talks with the U.S. in Qatar and Switzerland.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Iran called for the cessation of all hostilities in the region, including Lebanon. Israel continued to attack Lebanon regardless of the agreement.
Israel renewed its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, just a few hours after a ceasefire had taken effect on June 20, Reuters reported, citing Lebanese Civil Defense. Iran claimed the Israeli strikes violated the MOU between the United States and Iran.
As Israel continues to ignore requests from the U.S., President Donald Trump has been critical of the country’s actions in the region.
“You can do a little softer touch, Bibi,” Trump said on June 17 at the G7 summit, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I’m saying, when two drones are shot into the desert and dropped harmlessly, you don’t have to knock down buildings in Beirut.”
“They [Israel] could behave better,” the U.S. president said at the summit. “But they could do a much better job with Hezbollah. On that, I don’t think they’re doing well, and I feel very bad for Lebanon.”
Vice President JD Vance has also expressed his concern with Israel’s behavior.
“Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time, and he happens to be the head of state of the world’s superpower,” Vance said on June 18 during a White House press briefing. “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
(DCNF)
