Pakistan Intervention Halts Israeli Plan to Target Top Iranian Officials

Israel has reportedly removed two senior Iranian officials: Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, from its assassination target list following diplomatic intervention by Pakistan, according to a Pakistani official.

The official, speaking to Reuters, said Pakistan urged the United States to prevent the killings, warning that eliminating the two figures would shut down any remaining channels for negotiation. In response, Washington reportedly asked Israel to stand down.

“The Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to take them out,” the official said, adding that Pakistan stressed there would be “no one else to talk to” if both men were killed.

The development comes amid intensifying conflict between Israel, Iran, and US-led forces, with ongoing airstrikes, retaliatory missile attacks, and rising civilian casualties across the region.

Recent reports indicate that the United States and its allies are exploring diplomatic openings to de-escalate tensions, with countries including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt attempting to mediate between Washington and Tehran.

Analysts say the decision to spare Araqchi and Qalibaf may be aimed at preserving potential negotiating partners within Iran’s leadership, especially after a series of targeted strikes weakened key figures in Tehran’s political and military hierarchy.

Despite these diplomatic signals, prospects for peace remain uncertain, as both sides continue military operations and maintain sharply conflicting demands.