WASHINGTON: The United States and Israel have temporarily removed two key Iranian officials from their target list in anticipation of possible peace talks. The move is being seen as an attempt to reduce tensions in the region.
According to a report by the American newspaper Wall Street Journal, the names of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have been removed from this list for 4 to 5 days.
According to the report, this decision was made in the context of US President Donald Trump paving the way for high-level talks to end the war.
Sources say that mediators from various countries, including Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt, are trying to persuade the US and Iran to hold immediate talks so that a ceasefire can be possible first and then formal negotiations can begin.
However, according to officials, there are major differences in the terms between the US and Iran, due to which the chances of success of these talks currently appear limited.
