Israel and the United States have reportedly paused plans to target two senior Iranian officials in a move aimed at creating space for potential negotiations to end the fighting, according to American sources.

Sources indicate that Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been removed from operational target lists for a period of approximately four to five days. The temporary step comes as part of a broader effort to explore whether diplomatic progress can be made at the highest levels.

At the same time, international mediators—including Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt—are working to coordinate a meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in the near term. The goal is to secure a temporary ceasefire that would allow formal negotiations to begin.

Despite these efforts, officials involved in the process have cautioned that significant gaps remain between the two sides. Reports from Tehran suggest that Iranian leaders are, for now, rejecting proposals to enter negotiations.

The White House has also issued a firm warning that Washington is prepared to escalate its actions if diplomatic efforts fail.

In Israel, officials believe a ceasefire could be reached within days, though there is also a strong interest in continuing military operations beyond any initial pause.