Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has rejected a report published by The New York Times, which discussed American concerns over a potential Israeli plot to assassinate senior Iranian officials during negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The office described the report's claims as 'pure fabrication' with no connection to reality.
The American newspaper cited current and former U.S. officials who expressed fears within the Trump administration that targeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could derail negotiations and spark a renewed confrontation between the two sides.
According to the report, Washington requested regional intermediaries to send warning messages to Tehran about the potential targeting of its key officials. The newspaper also claimed that the U.S. administration had asked Israel to refrain from executing any actions that might disrupt the negotiation process.
The report added that Iranian authorities have heightened security measures to protect their officials during negotiation rounds, including providing aerial escort for their delegations during travels, following intelligence about potential threats.
In response, Netanyahu's office categorically denied the allegations, reaffirming in a statement that The New York Times' publication is 'fake news' and that the report 'has no basis in truth.'