US Warns Iran of Israeli Assassination Plot Against Iranian Negotiators Amid Nuclear Talks

In April 2026, during sensitive negotiations between the United States and Iran, the US government suspected that Israel planned to assassinate key Iranian negotiators, including Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The American concern over potential sabotage of the talks was so severe that Washington actively alerted Tehran through various countries about Israel's intentions.

Ahead of Qalibaf's planned flight to Islamabad to meet US Deputy Vice President J.D. Vance, Iranian security officials demanded firm guarantees from mediators in Qatar and Pakistan that Israel would not carry out covert attacks. Pakistani fighter jets escorted the Iranian aircraft from Iran's border to Islamabad and back. However, during the return flight, Iranian intelligence detected two Israeli fighter jets entering Iranian airspace near the Iraq border, prompting an urgent warning to Qalibaf's plane.

Following the alert, Qalibaf's plane made an emergency landing in Mashhad, near the Pakistan border. To avoid further aerial threats, the senior Iranian delegation traveled back to Tehran by an eight-hour overland journey. Iranian officials revealed that this was not the first time Qalibaf had narrowly escaped assassination attempts, citing previous Israeli strikes on underground bunkers during conflicts in June 2025 and the recent war, where he was rescued from the rubble at the last moment.

This incident highlights the intense Israeli surveillance and targeting of Iran's top political figures amid ongoing nuclear negotiations, raising the stakes of the diplomatic process and regional security.

Summary: During US-Iran nuclear talks in April 2026, the US warned Iran that Israel planned to assassinate Iranian negotiators, leading to emergency measures including an escorted flight and an emergency landing to avoid Israeli air attacks. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf narrowly escaped, underscoring ongoing Israeli targeting of Iranian officials.

Points: - The US suspected Israel planned to assassinate Iranian negotiators during April 2026 nuclear talks. - Targets included Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. - Pakistani fighter jets escorted Iranian flights to prevent Israeli attacks. - Iranian intelligence detected Israeli jets entering Iranian airspace, prompting an emergency landing. - Qalibaf traveled overland back to Tehran to avoid further aerial threats. - This was not Qalibaf's first near-death experience from Israeli strikes on Iranian officials.

Topic: security

Entities: {"people":["Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf","Abbas Araghchi","J.D. Vance"],"organizations":["United States government","Israeli military","Pakistani Air Force"],"places":["Iran","Iraq","Islamabad","Mashhad","Tehran","Qatar","Pakistan"]}