Israeli Jets Entered Iranian Airspace to Target Negotiators During U.S.-Iran Talks: Report

A report published on Friday has alleged that Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace during sensitive U.S.-Iran negotiations earlier this year as part of an apparent attempt to target senior Iranian officials involved in the diplomatic process, raising fresh questions over the risks surrounding the fragile peace talks.

According to The New York Times, cited by multiple international media outlets, U.S. intelligence officials became increasingly concerned that Israel could attempt to assassinate Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf while they were participating in indirect negotiations with Washington. American officials reportedly feared that any attack on the negotiating team would derail the diplomatic process and trigger renewed military escalation.

The report claims that during one of the negotiation rounds in April, Ghalibaf’s aircraft was warned mid-flight that two Israeli fighter jets had allegedly entered Iranian airspace through Iraq and could be preparing to intercept the plane as it returned from Islamabad. Iranian authorities reportedly instructed the aircraft to divert, leading to an emergency landing in Mashhad instead of continuing directly to Tehran. Senior Iranian officials then reportedly completed the journey to the capital by road.

According to the report, Washington also asked several regional governments to quietly warn Tehran about the perceived threat, believing that an assassination attempt during active negotiations could collapse the talks and reignite broader conflict. U.S. officials reportedly urged Israel not to act against at least one of the Iranian officials who had allegedly appeared on an Israeli target list.

Iranian officials also sought assurances through intermediaries, including Pakistan and Qatar, that members of the negotiating team would not be targeted while diplomatic efforts continued, the report said. Pakistani fighter jets reportedly escorted the Iranian delegation’s aircraft during parts of its journey because of the heightened security concerns.

As of Friday, Israel had not publicly confirmed the allegations. According to the report, Israeli officials declined to comment on the claims. The allegations surfaced as indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations continue through regional mediators amid efforts to preserve a ceasefire framework and prevent another escalation in the Middle East.

The reported episode has intensified scrutiny of the security risks surrounding high-level diplomacy in the region, although the allegations remain based on unnamed current and former U.S. officials cited by The New York Times and have not been independently confirmed by either the Israeli or Iranian governments.