Israel Officially Announces Assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in Tehran Strike

What happened in Tehran last night was far from a routine strike. The missiles that rocked the capital didn't just target military installations; they went straight for the jugular of the regime. A short time ago, Israel Katz came forward to announce what had, for weeks, been nothing more than speculation behind closed doors: the assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib.

Katz was unequivocal in his statement, confirming that Khatib had been "eliminated" overnight, in an operation described as part of a new approach in dealing with the ruling elite in Tehran. The man who had held this position since 2021, appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, was no ordinary government official. He was the "backbone" of the regime's internal security. A cleric who rose through the ranks of the Revolutionary Guard, he was a founding member of the Guard's intelligence apparatus in the 1980s. He then moved through a series of sensitive posts: head of security at the Razavi shrine, senior inspector in Khamenei's office, and head of the information protection centre in the judiciary. In short, he was the man who knew all the secrets of Iran's domestic front.

The announcement of Khatib's assassination came just hours after Tehran confirmed the deaths of the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, and the head of the Basij forces, Gholam Reza Soleimani. Three consecutive blows to the heart of the Iranian establishment. Talk in the corridors of Tel Aviv suggests the military has been given unprecedented authority to target any senior Iranian official "without the need for further approvals" from the political leadership.

• First operation: Assassination of Ali Larijani, the second-highest figure in the security decision-making hierarchy.
• Second operation: Targeting Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij (mobilisation) forces.
• Third operation: Elimination of Esmaeil Khatib, the Intelligence Minister.

The Iranian military response wasn't long in coming; Tehran launched a barrage of missiles towards Israel, which, according to official statements, resulted in two deaths near Tel Aviv. But the bigger question still hangs in the air: how will Iran retaliate for the targeting of its top security echelon on home soil?

What's particularly striking about Esmaeil Khatib's career is that he was a controversial figure even beyond Iran's borders. In September 2022, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on him, accusing him of being involved in cyber-attacks against Albania, which was hosting members of the Iranian opposition. He was one of Khamenei's inner circle and considered a hardline conservative hawk who managed the most sensitive security files, including countering Israeli infiltrations within Iran itself.

The situation is now heading down a much more complex path. With these strikes, Israel is sending a clear message that, in Katz's words, "no one in Iran has immunity." On the other side, holding funerals for three of the nation's top security leaders on a single day will be a real test of internal cohesion in Tehran, especially amid calls from Israeli figures—like Avigdor Lieberman—to keep the "foot on the accelerator" until the regime falls.

On the ground, the situation isn't limited to Tehran. Reports from Lorestan province indicate seven dead and 56 wounded in an attack on residential areas. Meanwhile, US Central Command has confirmed the use of bunker-buster bombs near the Strait of Hormuz, threatening one of the world's most vital oil transit chokepoints.

The distance between Tehran and Tel Aviv feels shorter today than ever before, not in kilometres, but in the reach of missiles and the ability of security agencies to penetrate the deepest layers. Esmaeil Khatib has paid a heavy price, but the question now echoing through the corridors of power in world capitals is: who's next on the list of "big surprises" Katz promised?