By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Israel has removed Iran’s foreign minister and the speaker of its parliament from its list of targets for elimination, after Pakistan asked the United States to intervene and prevent their deaths, a Pakistani source with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters on Thursday.
The Israelis “had their coordinates and wanted to take them out,” the source said. “We told the U.S. if they are also eliminated then there is no one else to talk to, hence the U.S. asked the Israelis to back off.”
The decision spares Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, at least for now, as Pakistan, Egypt and Turkiye quietly mediate between Tehran and Washington in an effort to end the war with Iran. Pakistan’s military and foreign office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the temporary removal of the two senior Iranian figures from Israel’s target list, citing US officials. The Journal said the pair had been taken off the list for up to four or five days as the two sides explore possible peace talks, but it made no mention of any Pakistani role in the decision.
Pakistan has maintained direct lines of communication with both Washington and Tehran at a moment when such channels are largely frozen for most other countries. Islamabad is also regarded as a potential venue should formal negotiations begin.
Iran is now reviewing a 15-point proposal from President Donald Trump, delivered through Pakistani intermediaries, that would require Tehran to remove its stocks of highly enriched uranium, halt all uranium enrichment, curb its ballistic missile program and sever funding to its regional allies, according to Israeli newspapers. Trump has publicly described Iran as “desperate” to reach a deal.
Araqchi, for his part, said Tehran was studying the American proposal but had “no intention” of entering talks aimed at winding down the conflict. The behind-the-scenes maneuvering comes as fighting between Israel and Iran continues. On Thursday, Israel’s defense minister said senior commanders in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy were killed alongside Ali Reza Tanksiri.
The Pakistani source’s account underscores the delicate role middle powers are playing as the United States and Israel weigh military pressure against the possibility of a negotiated end to the war. By pressing Washington to protect Araqchi and Qalibaf, Islamabad appears to be trying to preserve the small circle of Iranian officials still able to engage in diplomacy.
Whether the temporary reprieve leads to substantive talks remains uncertain. Iran has so far signaled no willingness to accept the core demands outlined in Trump’s proposal, while Israeli officials have made clear they intend to keep military options on the table.
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