US removes Iran’s top two negotiators from ‘kill list’ — for now

The US and Israel have removed Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf from their hit list after mediators said that peace talks would be dead without them, according to multiple reports.

Ghalibaf and Araghchi were in Israel’s crosshairs when mediators from Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt warned the US that their deaths would likely sink any hopes of a diplomatic end to the war.

“The Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to take them out, we told the US ​if they are also eliminated then there is no one else to talk to, hence the ​U.S. asked the Israelis to back off,” a Pakistani source told Reuters.

Ghalibaf and Araghchi are expected to enjoy only 10 days of reprieve as the US pushes for a peace deal, The Wall Street Journal first reported.

The IDF has declined to comment on whether the Iranians officials have been temporarily removed as targets.

Ghalibaf remains one of the most powerful leaders of the Iranian regime following the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his long-time rival Ali Larijani, with the parliament speaker believed to be the top official speaking with the Trump administration.

Both Ghalibaf and Araghchi have repeatedly denied being in direct talks with Washington, with Iran recently bashing Trump’s 15-point peace proposal.

Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are currently working to set up a meeting between Iranian and US negotiators in Islamabad.

Despite the alleged halt on attacks against Ghalibaf and Araghchi, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin vowed that the Jewish state will continue hunting Iran’s top leaders following the strike that killed  IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri overnight.

“The eliminations will not stop; we will continue to pursue anyone who threatens Israel,” he said in a statement.

With Post Wire