Israel has said it killed Iran’s Minister of Intelligence, Esmaeil Khatib, in a targeted strike in Tehran, marking a sharp escalation in ongoing hostilities between the two countries.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Khatib was eliminated in an operation carried out in the Iranian capital. In a statement, the IDF accused him of playing a key role in operations against Israeli and American targets, as well as actions against Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests between 2022 and 2023.
🔴ELIMINATED: Esmaeil Khatib, the Iranian terrorist regime Minister of Intelligence, in a targeted strike in Tehran.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2026
Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, including the arrest & killing of protestors and led terrorist activities against… pic.twitter.com/654lpYCZ1c
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Khatib’s death, describing it as an assassination and condemning the killing. He said the loss of senior officials had left the country “heartbroken” but added that their work would continue.
The reported killing comes amid a wave of strikes that have targeted Iran’s top leadership. Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary head Gholamreza Soleimani were also killed in Israeli air strikes a day earlier, according to Iranian authorities.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had been authorised to target senior Iranian officials without requiring case-by-case approval. Analysts cited in regional reports described Khatib as a close associate of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Meanwhile, the United States military’s Central Command said it had struck more than 7,800 targets linked to Iran and damaged or destroyed over 120 vessels as part of its operations in the region. It said the strikes were aimed at weakening Iran’s security infrastructure and addressing immediate threats.
In Tehran, funeral ceremonies were held for Larijani and Soleimani, drawing officials and mourners. Larijani was regarded as a key political figure, having previously led nuclear negotiations and served as speaker of parliament.
With deep sorrow, I received the grievous news of the martyrdom of Dr. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the Leader’s Representative in that Council, along with the martyrdom of his worthy son and several of his colleagues.
— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) March 18, 2026
Iran’s leadership has maintained that its governance structure does not depend on individual figures, even as the recent killings have removed several high-ranking officials within a short span.
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