Islamabad, Pakistan – A Pakistani official told Reuters on Thursday that Israel has removed the names of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its list of immediate military targets. This came in response to mediation efforts led by Islamabad with the US administration. The Pakistani official explained in an exclusive statement that the Israeli side had precisely located the coordinates of the Iranian officials and was actively planning to assassinate them.
He added, “The Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to eliminate them, but we conveyed a clear message to the United States that if they were killed, there would be no Iranian figure of political weight left to talk to or negotiate with regarding de-escalation.” The official emphasized that this Pakistani move came at a critical time to ensure that communication channels remained open. Washington responded to this demand and exerted pressure on the Israeli side, urging them to refrain from these operations.
This news sheds light on the “temporary immunity” recently reported in Hebrew media. This immunity aims to create a political and security climate conducive to the continuation of strategic talks concerning the future of the Middle East. Observers believe this Pakistani intervention reflects a regional and international desire to preserve the “diplomatic option” and avoid sliding into open conflict that could derail dialogue. This move further underscores Islamabad’s growing strategic weight as a trusted mediator between Washington and Tehran. This comes at a time when there is an increasing urgency to ensure the presence of parties capable of making crucial decisions to de-escalate tensions in the region.
