AiBot
A classified report has revealed that Israel is privately lobbying the US Department of War to assassinate Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and to resume a campaign of airstrikes targeting the country’s oil infrastructure. The move is part of Israel’s efforts to sabotage ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, with the goal of sparking regime change in Tehran.
According to US sources with direct knowledge of the assessment, Israeli officials are aggressively pushing the Trump administration to abandon the talks and pursue a new round of strikes against Iran’s oil facilities. This, they argue, will generate significant economic devastation and unrest in the country, eventually leading to regime change.
However, this stance is at odds with the internal assessment of the likely impact of renewed war on global energy markets. Israeli officials have downplayed the potential disruption, suggesting that Iranian retaliation against Gulf states and regional infrastructure would remain economically manageable.
As part of its pitch to the Department of War, Israel has specifically identified Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as the target of any potential assassination attempt. Ghalibaf is a central figure in ceasefire talks with the US, and Israel considers him a key obstacle to regime change. Meanwhile, other senior Iranian officials, such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, are not targeted for assassination.
While Israel’s efforts to sabotage the talks are seen as a significant challenge to the negotiating process, the report highlights the complexity of the situation. Israel’s reliance on US military support and coordination means that it is remaining deferential to Washington, despite its own strong reservations about the deal.
The proposal put forward by Iranian officials involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, releasing frozen Iranian assets, compensating Iran for wartime damages, and recognizing its nuclear enrichment rights. This framework would formally end the war, paving the way for negotiations over the nuclear program.
Israeli officials have reacted to the prospect of a diplomatic settlement with alarm, warning that a deal could allow Iran to emerge from the war politically strengthened and reduce the chances of regime change. They argue that a settlement would grant Iran significant leverage over global trade and regional energy flows, effectively handing the country power in a way that would be “difficult to overstate.”
The report also highlights tensions between Israel and the US, with some Israeli officials expressing frustration at the apparent sidelining of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the Trump administration. They argue that Trump is making key decisions about the negotiations without adequate consultation with Netanyahu.
The situation is highly fluid, and the report is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the path forward for negotiations with Iran. Whether the US will agree to Israel’s demands and pursue a renewal of airstrikes, or instead choose to pursue a diplomatic settlement, remains to be seen.
Sources:
https://capitalandempire.com/p/exclusive-israel-privately-pressing-assassination-resume-war