Israel officially announces assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in Tehran strike

What happened last night in Tehran was no routine strike. The missiles that rocked the capital didn't just target military installations; they struck at the heart of the regime. A short while ago, Israel Katz came forward to announce what had, for weeks, been merely speculation behind closed doors: the assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib.

Katz was unequivocal in his statement, noting that Khatib had been "eliminated" overnight in an operation described as part of a new policy towards the ruling elite in Tehran. The man who held this post 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 co-founded the Guard's intelligence apparatus in the 1980s, and subsequently moved through various sensitive positions: head of security at the Imam Reza shrine, senior inspector in Khamenei's office, and director of the information protection centre within 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 force, Gholam Reza Soleimani. Three consecutive blows to the heart of the Iranian stronghold. Whispers in Tel Aviv's corridors suggest the military has been granted unprecedented authority to target any senior Iranian official "without needing additional approvals" from 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 force.
• Third operation: Elimination of Esmaeil Khatib, Minister of Intelligence.

The Iranian military response wasn't long in coming; Tehran launched a barrage of missiles towards Israel, which reportedly killed two people near Tel Aviv, according to official statements. But the bigger question hangs in the air: How will Iran retaliate for strikes targeting its top internal security echelon?

What's 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 involvement in cyberattacks targeting Albania, which was hosting members of the Iranian opposition. He was one of Khamenei's inner circle, considered a hardline conservative hawk managing the most sensitive security files, including countering Israeli infiltrations within Iran itself.

The situation is now heading into even more complex territory. With these strikes, Israel is sending a message that "no one in Iran is immune," as Katz put it. On the other hand, holding funerals for three of the most prominent security leaders on a single day will be a real test of internal cohesion in Tehran, amid Israeli calls – such as those from Avigdor Lieberman – to keep their "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, while US Central Command 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 most intricate details. Esmaeil Khatib paid a heavy price, but the question now echoing through the corridors of major world capitals is: who's next on the list of "big surprises" Katz promised?