Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace to attack negotiators' plane after talks in Islamabad

Israeli fighter jets entered Iranian airspace as Tehran's top negotiators were engaged in diplomatic efforts with the United States, according to a New York Times report that says American officials feared Israel was plotting to kill two senior Iranian officials involved in peace negotiations.

US officials became increasingly concerned that Israel could target Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on their return to Iran after peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan, the report published on Wednesday said. 

According to the New York Times, Washington was concerned that an Israeli assassination attempt could derail the talks and it asked regional countries to warn Iran about the potential threat.

"Any attempt to kill the Iranian leaders would end the talks and reignite the fighting," American officials told the newspaper.

While Washington increasingly focused on securing a ceasefire and a diplomatic framework, Israel remained sceptical of negotiations that fell short of its broader war aims. 

Read more: Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace to attack negotiators' plane after talks in Islamabad, NYT reports