Israel Denies US Claims of Assassination Threats Against Iranian Officials

The Israeli government has firmly rejected allegations from a US report suggesting that Israel may have plotted to assassinate senior Iranian officials during peace negotiations. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office labeled the claims as false and a distortion of reality. The report indicated that US officials had warned Iran about potential threats to key figures involved in nuclear discussions. Additionally, Netanyahu and Trump are set to meet soon, while a Brazilian journalist made sensational claims regarding Mossad's alleged plans against Pakistan's military chief. The situation continues to develop as diplomatic tensions rise.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 4, 2026, 10:38 IST

Israeli Government Responds to Allegations

Tel Aviv: The office of Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed a report suggesting that US officials were concerned about potential Israeli assassination attempts on senior Iranian negotiators, including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during peace discussions in Islamabad earlier this year. This report originated from a prominent American newspaper.

In a post on X, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated, "As is often the case, the latest article from the New York Times regarding Israel and Iranian negotiators is entirely false. It is a complete distortion of the truth." The report indicated that Washington had warned Tehran about possible threats to Araghchi and Ghalibaf following a ceasefire on April 8, during which both were pivotal in Iran's diplomatic negotiations concerning its nuclear program.

According to the article, some US officials believed that Israel considered these Iranian leaders as legitimate targets within its broader strategy against senior Iranian figures. Consequently, US officials reportedly urged their counterparts in various regional nations to alert Tehran about the potential risks to Araghchi and Ghalibaf.

In other developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet in the United States soon, as reported by a local media outlet, referencing a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the United States, emphasizing, "The US is the guardian of global freedom, and Israel deeply values the strong relationship between our nations." The statement confirmed that both leaders planned to meet in the near future, although no specific date or location was mentioned.

Additionally, last month, Brazilian journalist Pepe Escobar made a startling assertion that Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, had intentions to assassinate Pakistan's military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with the entire Pakistani delegation in Geneva during US-Iran peace negotiations. Escobar claimed during a podcast that the Pakistani military had received credible intelligence regarding Mossad's plans, allegedly ordered by Netanyahu, to carry out an assassination attempt. He further stated that Pakistan had issued a warning to Israel through Oman, although no official comments have been made by any involved parties regarding these claims.