Israel crosses names off target list. Sensational behind-the-scenes of Pakistan's intervention

Israel removed Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its list of targets in Iran after Pakistan's intervention, a Pakistani official told Reuters. Earlier, Islamabad sent a request to Washington in this regard.

“The Israelis targeted them and intended to eliminate them, we told the US that if they were also killed, there would be no one to hold talks with, so the US asked Israel to desist from these actions,” the Pakistani official said.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on Thursday that Israel had abandoned plans to kill Aragchi and Ghalibaf, citing US officials but not mentioning Pakistan's role. The newspaper also noted that the suspension of attacks on these officials would be temporary.

Pakistan, Egypt and Türkiye are three countries playing key roles in mediating between Tehran and Washington to end the war. The first of them also remains a potential place for talks, should they take place.

Aragchi and Ghalibaf are among a small group of high-level Iranian officials who survived Israeli-American airstrikes on Iran during the nearly month-long war. Since February 28, these attacks have killed, among others, former supreme leader of the country Ali Khamenei, Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpur and secretary of the national security council Ali Larijani.

The war seriously disrupted the world energy market. In recent days, there have been reports of US efforts to end the conflict. US officials confirmed that they had transmitted a plan to Iran through Pakistan to end the war. However, Aragchi announced that Iran was not conducting any negotiations with the US, which would be an admission of defeat.

Israel continues to attack targets in Iran, and according to the media, they are even more intense because authorities in Jerusalem fear that Trump will suddenly declare a truce. (PAP)

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