In a significant diplomatic development, Israel has reportedly taken two senior Iranian officials off its elimination list, a move widely seen as a nod to Pakistan’s mediation efforts to defuse rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.
According to a Pakistani source cited by Reuters, Israel had identified the coordinates of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf as potential targets.
But Islamabad, urging restraint, warned the United States that eliminating both figures would leave no interlocutors for dialogue — a scenario that would jeopardize ongoing diplomatic avenues.
“We told Washington that if these leaders were removed, there would be no one left to talk to,” the source said. Following Pakistan’s intervention, the U.S. reportedly asked Israel to hold off on any strikes, and the officials were subsequently dropped from the target list.
Neither Pakistan’s military nor its foreign office has yet publicly commented on the report.
The incident comes amid broader efforts by Pakistan, alongside Egypt and Turkey, to serve as key intermediaries in the Iran–U.S. standoff.
Islamabad has maintained rare direct communication channels with both Tehran and Washington and is being considered as a potential venue for negotiations.
Iran, for its part, is reviewing a 15‑point peace proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly encompassing limits on uranium enrichment, reductions in missile capabilities, and curbs on regional influence networks.
While Trump has framed Tehran as increasingly receptive to a deal, Araqchi has reiterated that Iran is still assessing the offer and is not yet prepared to enter formal negotiations to de‑escalate the conflict.
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