SAEDNEWS: U.S. officials say the White House believed that Israel had prepared a plan to assassinate Iran's foreign minister and the speaker of the country's parliament.
According to the political desk of Saad News Agency, The New York Times reported early Friday that Israel had allegedly prepared plans to assassinate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament, and Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister.
Citing sources within the U.S. government, The New York Times stated that the White House believed Israel had developed an assassination plan targeting both Araghchi and Ghalibaf.
According to U.S. officials, Ghalibaf had been identified as a potential target from the very beginning of the indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States. The officials said that after Washington became aware of the alleged plan, it urged Tel Aviv to abandon the operation.
The report further claimed that the United States asked several countries in West Asia to inform Iran about possible Israeli efforts to target members of the Iranian negotiating team.
The New York Times also reported that U.S. officials were concerned such actions could derail the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, which reportedly began in early April.
