U.S. officials are reported to have warned Iran through intermediaries this spring that Israel might attempt to assassinate senior Iranian negotiators, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, urging Tehran to take preventive measures. The reports indicate that the Trump administration was then seeking a diplomatic resolution to the Iran-Israel conflict and aiming to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, fearing that Israel's continued assassination campaign targeting Iran's political leadership would jeopardize prospects for negotiations. A U.S. official said that killing these individuals would effectively eliminate the pragmatic faction within Iran. This move highlights the divergence between the U.S. and Israel over objectives in the Iran war, as well as Washington’s limited influence over the Israeli government. According to informed sources, even as early as March, when the Trump administration was exploring ceasefire diplomatic options, the U.S. had already urged Israel not to continue eliminating Iran’s political leadership. Since the outbreak of U.S.-Iran tensions, Israel has carried out assassinations of multiple Iranian political and military leaders, including Supreme Leader Khamenei, while U.S. military operations have focused on weakening Iran’s navy and missile capabilities.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869717222857931/
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