WASHINGTON, Mar 26: Israel has removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its hit list following a request from Pakistan, Times of Israel quoted Reuters.
According to a Pakistani official, Israel had the coordinates to target the two Iranian figures, but Pakistan argued that eliminating them would leave no viable diplomatic contacts, prompting the United States to ask Israel to step back.
The two Iranian officials were removed from the target list for up to four or five days, as US President Donald Trump opens the door for negotiations, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Mediators from Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt are working to arrange talks between US and Iranian officials as soon as the coming days, though officials say the chances of a breakthrough remain low due to significant gaps between the sides.
A 15-point US proposal to end the conflict, sent through Pakistan to Iran, calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, removing Iran’s stocks of highly enriched uranium, curbing its ballistic missile program, and cutting off funding for regional allies.
The plan addresses Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, as well as maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz ,that Iran has largely blocked, disrupting oil and gas supplies worldwide. It remains unclear, however, how widely the proposal has circulated within Tehran or whether Iran would accept it as a basis for talks.
Since Feb. 28, the United States and Israel have targeted Iran’s missile facilities and nuclear infrastructure, while Iran has continued launching missiles at Israel and neighboring Arab states. Iran also retains roughly 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, raising concerns about potential nuclear escalation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomatic efforts are ongoing but emphasized that “Operation Epic Fury continues unabated to achieve the military objectives outlined by the commander-in-chief and the Pentagon.”
Meanwhile, Germany has expressed readiness to support any peace agreement between the United States and Iran, with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius highlighting the protection of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as a priority in the event of a ceasefire. Iran, for its part, is considering collecting transit fees from ships passing through the strategic strait, with a draft proposal set to be reviewed by parliament’s research center next week.
(UNI)
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