Pakistan Intercedes to Remove Top Iranian Negotiators from Israel’s Target List

Israel reportedly removed Iran’s Foreign Minister and Speaker of Parliament from its elimination list for 5 days following a strategic request from Pakistan to Washington.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 9:11 AM EDT

Source: Reuters

A Five-Day Diplomatic Window

The removal of the two high-ranking officials is reportedly temporary, lasting between four and five days. This window is intended to allow the officials to explore a 15-point U.S. proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

The Intelligence: Sources indicate that Israeli forces already possessed the exact coordinates of Araqchi and Qalibaf.

The Request: Pakistan communicated to the U.S. that these men represent the "last line" of communicators in Tehran. Following this, the U.S. requested that Israel stand down.

The WSJ Report: While The Wall Street Journal previously noted the removal of these officials from the list, it did not mention the pivotal role played by Pakistani mediation.

Islamabad’s Role as the Neutral Ground