Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in what Tehran says was an Israeli airstrike, marking the third assassination of a senior Iranian official within 48 hours and signaling a sharp escalation in the Iran-Israel confrontation.
The announcement, reported by Al Jazeera, came early Wednesday, hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly claimed the minister had been killed. Iranian authorities said the strike took place overnight, though specific operational details have not been independently verified.
Series of targeted killings
Khatib’s death follows the reported killings of Ali Larijani, a senior political and security figure, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force. Both were said to have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday.
In a statement, Pezeshkian condemned what he described as the “cowardly assassination” of his colleagues, saying their deaths had left the nation “heartbroken.” In a post on X, he added that their “path will continue stronger than before,” signaling Iran’s intent to project resilience despite the loss of key officials.
Israeli strategy and expanded authority
According to Israeli officials cited by Al Jazeera, the recent strikes were enabled by intelligence gathered over a short period, allowing for the targeting of multiple high-ranking Iranian figures.
Defense Minister Katz also said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had granted the Israeli military standing authorization to eliminate senior Iranian officials without requiring case-by-case approval. Analysts view this as a shift toward a more aggressive and streamlined targeting policy.
Reporting from the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim said Israeli military analysts consider Khatib to have been a trusted figure with close ties to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Strategic and symbolic loss for Iran
Khatib was widely regarded as a central figure in Iran’s intelligence establishment. According to Al Jazeera’s Tehran correspondent Mohamed Vall, he possessed strong religious and ideological credentials, having studied at the influential seminary in Qom and trained under the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Vall described Khatib as a senior cleric holding the title “Proof of Islam,” with decades of experience in intelligence operations, particularly in civilian intelligence networks. Analysts say his killing could weaken Iran’s internal security structure and disrupt intelligence coordination.
International dimensions
The developments come amid broader geopolitical pressure on Iran. According to Al Jazeera, the United States Department of State had recently announced a $10 million reward for information related to Iran’s new supreme leader and other senior officials, including Khatib.
While Washington has not directly commented on the reported strikes, the reward highlights heightened international scrutiny of Iran’s leadership during the current crisis.
Public response and funerals
Funeral ceremonies for Larijani and Soleimani were held in Tehran on Wednesday, drawing large crowds of officials and supporters, according to Iran’s state-affiliated Press TV. The gatherings reflected both mourning and defiance, as authorities sought to demonstrate unity.
Larijani had been one of Iran’s most influential political figures, previously serving as speaker of parliament and playing a key role in nuclear negotiations with Western powers.
Message of continuity
In an interview aired by Al Jazeera following Larijani’s death, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States and Israel misunderstand Iran’s political system.
He emphasized that Iran’s governance does not depend on any single individual, suggesting that the country’s institutional structure would remain intact despite the loss of senior officials.
Escalating regional risk
The rapid succession of targeted killings has raised concerns about a broader regional conflict. Analysts warn that Iran may respond through direct or proxy actions, potentially involving allied groups across the Middle East.
The intensification of Israeli operations against Iran’s leadership, combined with Tehran’s pledge of resilience, suggests a dangerous trajectory toward more direct confrontation.
With tensions already high, the latest developments are likely to deepen instability in the region, with potential global implications for security, diplomacy, and energy markets.
