The Pakistani official explained that Israel had already pinpointed the locations of both Iranian officials and was actively planning to eliminate them. Pakistan intervened by conveying to the United States that killing these figures would leave no one of sufficient political standing on the Iranian side to engage in de-escalation talks.

Pakistan’s military and foreign office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Wall Street Journal had originally broken the story that the two officials were temporarily taken off Israel’s elimination list as potential peace talks were being explored, for a window of roughly four to five days, though that report made no mention of Pakistan’s involvement.

U.S. President Trump has described Iran as eager to reach a deal, while Araqchi indicated that Tehran was considering the American proposal but had no plans to pursue formal negotiations to end the conflict