The United States has reportedly removed two key Iranian officials from its target list as peace negotiations between the two countries progress, potentially in Pakistan or Turkey.
Peace Talks Underway
The United States reportedly delivered a 15-point document to Iran outlining conditions for a ceasefire, focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and missile arsenal. In return, the US would lift economic sanctions and assist Iran in developing a civilian nuclear program.
Iran responded with its own demands, including the closure of all American military bases in the Persian Gulf region and the payment of war reparations, refusing to compromise on its missile arsenal.
Trump Announces Negotiation Shift
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that negotiations with Iran were resuming, extending a previous ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to the following Friday, averting a threatened bombing of Iranian power plants. Tehran maintains it is not engaged in ceasefire talks with the US.
Officials Briefly Removed From Target List
The decision to temporarily remove two Iranian officials from the US target list is linked to the ongoing peace negotiations. The officials—Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragczi—could be reinstated to the list within four to five days.
Trump’s Assessment of Iranian Negotiators
On Wednesday, President Trump suggested Iranian negotiators fear repercussions for engaging with the United States, believing they could be killed by their own people or by the US.
Ghalibaf as Potential Intermediary
The New York Times reports that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ air force, is a potential link between the administrations. He is considered a prominent conservative in Iran, valued more for his management skills than ideology.