Esmail Khatib, Iran's intelligence minister, has been killed, the country's president has confirmed.
Masoud Pezeshkian said the cowardly assassination had left Iran in deep mourning, after Israel claimed on Wednesday it had killed Khatib in an air strike.
This development follows the previous day’s announcement by Israel regarding the deaths of Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, and the head of the paramilitary Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, in similar strikes. It marks a significant escalation in efforts by Israel and the US to dismantle Iranian leadership amidst an ongoing war that has led to several high-profile casualties.
Since the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, Iranian officials have become increasingly vulnerable, with Khatib's death being the latest in a series of strategic killings aimed at destabilizing the regime.
Pezeshkian, in a message on X (formerly Twitter), expressed condolences to the Iranian people and reassured them that the deceased officials' paths would continue more steadfastly than before.
In public sentiment, a Tehran resident expressed mixed feelings about the assassination, suggesting it might lower the risk of violence during protests against the government, despite acknowledging that successors would be appointed.
Israel's Defense Minister announced that Khatib had been targeted in an Israeli strike on Tehran, emphasizing a newfound strategy to eliminate senior Iranian figures without the need for prior approval.
This action underscores the ongoing Israeli strategy to target Iranian officials perceived as instrumental in national oppression and terrorism, particularly during recent civil unrest in Iran.
Khatib held a significant position within the Iranian regime, having been appointed as intelligence minister by the late former president, Ebrahim Raisi, in 2021. His career included various high-profile roles in the Iranian intelligence apparatus. Notably, he had been sanctioned by the US Treasury for his involvement in cyber operations against the US and its allies.
The clashes have led to significant casualties, with over 1,300 reported deaths since the onset of military strikes against Iran, as confirmed by Iranian officials. In response, Iran has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East, including recent attacks on Israeli territory, amidst an increasingly volatile regional situation.
As the conflict unfolds, global repercussions are being felt, with oil prices surging as tensions rise over crucial energy supply routes in the region.
