Pakistan asked U.S. to press Israel not to target top Iranian officials, source says
- 4 hours ago
- 1 min read
Riyadh, March 26, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Israel removed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf from its target list after Pakistan urged Washington to press Israel not to strike them, a Pakistani source with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters on Thursday.
The source said Pakistan told the United States that if the two senior Iranian officials were also killed, there would be no one left to talk to, prompting Washington to ask Israel to back off. The Wall Street Journal first reported that the two officials had been temporarily removed from the list for up to four or five days as possible peace efforts were explored.
Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are playing mediation roles between Tehran and Washington as efforts continue to find a path to end the war. Islamabad has maintained direct contact with both sides and is also being considered as a possible venue for talks.
Reuters also reported that Iran is reviewing a 15-point U.S. proposal conveyed through Pakistan, though Tehran has described the plan as one-sided and unfair while keeping the door to diplomacy open.
Asked about the report, Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani did not address specific targets and said the military follows a rigorous approval process before every strike.
