Israel's Alleged Plot Against Iranian Negotiators Collapsed U.S.-Iran Talks

A July 2 New York Times report that U.S. officials believed Israel might have targeted Iran's negotiating team struck at the heart of a three-week diplomatic effort. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had declared an agreement "never closer" on June 12, shifted to "no significant progress" days later. Trump declared the cease-fire "over" July 8, threatening renewed strikes. The alleged plot—unconfirmed by Israeli or Iranian officials—arrived just ten days after Iran and the U.S. agreed to establish a coordination mechanism, undermining Iranian trust in parallel U.S.-Israeli military operations.