File photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Image source: ANI)
Israel on Friday rejected reports that it planned to assassinate top Iranian negotiators during diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Iran, calling the allegations “fake news” and a “complete fabrication of reality.”
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The American newspaper reported that American officials secretly fear that Israel will target Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf during the negotiations that took place earlier this year.The report claimed that US officials conveyed indirect warnings to the two Iranian leaders through regional mediators, fearing that any assassination attempt would obstruct diplomacy.
American concerns about the negotiations
According to previous reports, US officials believe that Israel may attempt to assassinate two senior Iranian officials while Washington was seeking a diplomatic settlement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.The Washington Post quoted an American official, without revealing his identity, as saying: “If you kill these people, you are killing pragmatists.”
According to reports, Washington has also urged Israeli officials since March not to target Iran’s political leadership during negotiations. The Washington Post quoted a White House official as saying, “The president wants the peace process to be completed.”US officials believe that such an attack could have collapsed negotiations and reignited fighting between the two sides.
Netanyahu and Trump agree to meet
Separately, Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump agreed, during a phone call on Friday, to meet in the United States in the near future, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.The statement said that Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, adding that “it is the United States that guarantees the freedom of the world, and Israel greatly values the close ties between nations.”The Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders agreed to meet soon in the United States, although no date or location has been announced.Meanwhile, Qatar and Pakistan concluded separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on July 1, with officials reporting “positive progress” on issues related to the 14-point memorandum of understanding.The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the parties agreed to continue discussions, and the next round is expected to be held after the funeral ceremony of the former Iranian Supreme Leader.