A sharp war of words has erupted between Israel and The New York Times (NYT) after the US newspaper reported that Washington warned Iran about possible Israeli assassination plots targeting senior Iranian officials involved in nuclear negotiations.
The report, published by NYT, cited current and former US officials who claimed that the United States alerted Tehran in April that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could be at risk of assassination attempts.
Israel Rejects Claims
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office strongly denied the allegations, calling the report “fake news” and a “complete fabrication of reality.”
In a statement posted on social media, the office dismissed the claims and accused the publication of spreading misinformation about Israel’s actions toward Iranian negotiators.
NYT Stands By Its Reporting
The New York Times responded publicly, defending the story and stating that its report was based on interviews with multiple current and former American officials.
The newspaper also noted that the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment before publication.
Alleged Warning Over Iranian Leaders
According to the report, some US officials believed Israel was considering targeting Araghchi and Ghalibaf in the weeks following an April ceasefire. Both officials were reportedly involved in negotiations with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The report claimed Washington feared the two leaders could be viewed as potential targets amid Israel’s broader operations against senior Iranian figures.
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One of the most dramatic allegations involved Ghalibaf’s return flight from Islamabad to Tehran in April.
Claim of Aircraft Targeting Raises Questions
NYT reported that US officials warned Iran that Israeli fighter jets had entered Iranian airspace and were preparing to intercept Ghalibaf’s aircraft. Following the warning, the Iranian official reportedly diverted his flight and landed in Mashhad instead of Tehran.
The report has reignited debate over the extent of tensions between Israel, Iran and the United States, while also highlighting possible disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over handling Iran-related negotiations.
As of now, Israel continues to categorically deny the allegations, while NYT maintains that its reporting is accurate and based on credible sources.
