ISLAMABAD聽鈥 Israel took Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf off its hit list after Pakistan requested that Washington not target them, a Pakistani source with knowledge of the discussions聽told Reuters on Thursday.
鈥淭he Israelis had their coordinates and wanted to take them out, we told the US if they are also eliminated then there is no one else to talk to, hence the US asked the Israelis to back off,鈥 the source said.
Pakistan鈥檚 military and foreign office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that the two top Iranian officials had been temporarily removed from Israel鈥檚 list of officials to eliminate as they explore possible peace talks. The two officials have been removed from the list for up to four or five days, the Journal said, citing US officials, but did not mention any Pakistani role in it.
Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are playing the role of mediator聽between Tehran and Washington to end the Iran war.
Islamabad has maintained direct contact with both Washington and Tehran at a time when such channels are frozen for most other countries. Islamabad has also been seen as a likely venue if peace talks are held.
Iran is reviewing a 15-point proposal from US President Donald Trump, sent through Pakistan, to end the war. The proposal calls for removing Iran鈥檚 stocks of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, curbing its ballistic missile program and cutting off funding for regional allies, according to Israeli cabinet sources familiar with the plan.
Mr. Trump has said Iran is desperate to make a deal, while Mr. Araqchi said Tehran was reviewing the US proposal but had no intention of holding talks to wind down the conflict. 鈥斅Reuters
