Washington, July 3 -- The United States privately alerted Iran through regional intermediaries that Israel could target two of Tehran's senior officials during diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, according to a report by The New York Times.

The newspaper, citing current and former US officials, said Washington was concerned that any attack on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi or Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf would jeopardise ceasefire negotiations launched after hostilities eased in April.

Rather than contacting Tehran directly, US officials reportedly asked several countries in the region to pass on the warning, fearing that the killing of either official would undermine the fragile diplomatic process and trigge...