Iran Claims Foiled Assassination Attempt on FM Araghchi, Blames ‘Great Israeli Conspiracy
The purported attempt took place as Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran, gets ready for important negotiations with European leaders in Geneva.
Days before Abbas Araghchi’s planned diplomatic trip to Geneva amid growing tensions between Iran and Israel, Iranian authorities say they have foiled an Israeli-backed assassination plot on the foreign minister.
Araghchi adviser Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran revealed the discovery, saying Iranian intelligence had discovered and neutralised what he called a “major Israeli conspiracy” to assassinate the top ambassador in Tehran.
As Foreign Minister Araghchi gets ready to meet with his German, French, and British counterparts in Geneva on Friday, there has been an alleged attempt on his life.
“Maybe the great Israeli conspiracy against him would have been carried out in Tehran a few days ago if it weren’t for the security measures of the ‘unknown soldiers of the homeland’ (Iranian intelligence team), which, thank God, failed,” Ranjbaran wrote on X.
Iran’s intelligence and security personnel are frequently referred to as “unknown soldiers of the homeland.” The advisor to Abbas Araghchi added that the announcement that Araghchi would be leading negotiations with the European “troika” had heightened Iranian security worries.
He cautioned that there are still threats against the minister’s life. Indeed, such a threat existed and continues to exist. However, Seyed Abbas Araghchi views himself more as a motherland soldier than as the head of the diplomatic service, according to Ranjbaran’s tweet.
The gathering in Geneva
Araghchi has gone forward with his travel arrangements and is currently on his way to Geneva in spite of the purported plot. According to his adviser, the threat has not deterred the minister. He aspires to martyrdom, according to Ranjbaran.
International observers are keeping a close eye on the Geneva gathering. Among the prominent individuals anticipated to attend are British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell.
The diplomatic drive comes as Israel and Iran’s armed crisis enters its second week, with Tehran launching missile attacks in response to Israeli airstrikes that target Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
“There is now a window within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy stated prior to the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have reaffirmed that they will not let perceived or actual security threats deter them from achieving their larger diplomatic and strategic objectives.
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