Two American officials told CNN that during the negotiations, Washington had warned the Islamic Republic through intermediaries that it was concerned about the possibility of an Israeli attempt to assassinate Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of the Islamic Republic’s parliament, or Abbas Arachi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic. According to the U.S. officials, there was no immediate sign that Washington was aware of a specific plan, but public statements by Israeli officials about targeting senior leaders of the Islamic Republic had increased concerns. The office of Israel’s prime minister called the report “fake” and rejected it. Abbas Arachi, the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, also confirmed Washington’s warning about the possibility that Israel would target senior negotiators.