Iran, U.S., and Israel in tense standoff: Top Iranian leaders targeted and spared

Middle East 26-03-2026 | 13:14

Iran, U.S., and Israel in tense standoff: Top Iranian leaders targeted and spared

Amid ongoing indirect negotiations through Pakistan and Egypt, Iran rejects U.S. peace proposals while Tehran’s top officials narrowly avoid targeted strikes, signaling high-stakes diplomacy and rising conflict in the Middle East. 
Iran, U.S., and Israel in tense standoff: Top Iranian leaders targeted and spared
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
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Amid talks of indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations through intermediaries, including Pakistan and Egypt, a Pakistani official revealed that Israel removed the names of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from its targeting list after Pakistan requested Washington not to target them.

 

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. (Iranian Agencies)
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. (Iranian Agencies)

 

 

The official, speaking today, Thursday, added, "The Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to eliminate them, but we told the United States that if they were also eliminated, there would be no one left to talk to."

 

 

U.S. Request

 

He added that the United States asked the Israelis to back down, according to Reuters.

 

This information emerged after Araghchi announced on state television on Wednesday evening that his country has no intention of negotiating with the American side, adding that Iran's policy is “to continue resistance.”

 

He also denied U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of ongoing talks, saying, “We want to end the war on our terms and ensure it does not recur,” and noting that “talk of negotiations is an acknowledgment of defeat,” in reference to Trump's repeated statements about conducting talks.

 

 

5 Conditions

 

It is noted that a senior Iranian official mentioned yesterday that Iran rejected the proposed U.S. peace plan to end the war that has been ongoing for about a month, marking the first public Iranian acknowledgment of talks taking place. The official stated, “Tehran's reaction to the U.S. proposal was negative,” adding, “The war will end when our country decides to end it, not when Trump decides,” according to Press TV, the English-language channel affiliated with Iranian state television.

 

He also pointed out that his country has set five conditions to end the conflict, including obtaining guarantees against future attacks and receiving financial compensation for war damages.

 

This Iranian rejection came after two senior officials in Islamabad stated that Pakistan had conveyed to Tehran a 15-point plan proposed by the United States to stop the war, which began on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Tehran. American officials noted that the plan addresses Iran's nuclear and missile programs, as well as “maritime routes,” at a time when Iran has effectively closed the Hormuz Strait through attacks and threats, causing global market instability and rising oil prices.

 

The White House confirmed that Trump continues to negotiate with Iran, threatening to “open the gates of hell” on it if it doesn't agree to a deal that ends the war.

 

 

It is noted that the joint U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on the first day of the war resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military and political leaders.

 

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv has said it considers Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, a target for assassination, indicating that senior figures of the “Iranian regime” remain in its crosshairs.