Israel Assassinates Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, IDF, Katz Confirm

Before the assassination was confirmed, two sources gave The Jerusalem Post different indications on the likelihood of the success of the operation, which took place Tuesday night.

The IDF has assassinated Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the military both confirmed on Wednesday.

Before the assassination was confirmed, two sources gave The Jerusalem Post different indications on the likelihood of the success of the operation, which took place Tuesday night.

Khataib’s death marks the next most significant assassination in Iran since the early days of the war, other than the killing of Ali Larijani and the Basij chief on Monday night.

Khatib has been the intelligence minister since August 2021, when ultra-hardliner and former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was elected.

When Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, and Masoud Pezeshkian succeeded him as Iranian president, he kept Khatib in his role, an unusual move given that traditionally new presidents replace top ministers with their own close associates.

Pezeshkian denounces strikes on Iranian leaders, including Khatib, Larijani, defense minister, Basij leaders

Pezeshkian corroborated the IDF and Katz’s announcement of Israeli strikes killing senior Iranian leaders during a post on the president’s official X/Twitter on Wednesday evening.

“The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues, Esmaeil Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, along with some of their relatives and others, has left us in deep mourning,” he wrote.

He also extended condolences to the people of Iran for the “martyrdom of two cabinet members, the Shura secretary, and military and Basij commanders.”

“I am certain their path will continue more steadfastly than before,” he concluded.

Khatib seen as hardliner close to Khamenei checking Pezeshkian

However, Khatib was close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was viewed as a hardliner who could keep Pezeshkian’s more moderate positions in check.

In addition, over the years, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) started to displace aspects of the authorities and power of the intelligence ministry, causing friction and competition between the bodies.

Raisi was closer to the IRGC than former president Hassan Rouhani, and Khatib spent much of his career in the IRGC’s intelligence branch.

When Raisi moved Khatib from the IRGC to run the intelligence ministry, it also cemented some of the IRGC’s new intelligence powers.

Khamenei wanted to keep Khatib in place partially to ensure continued IRGC dominance.

Although the IRGC was viewed by Khamenei as more loyal and ideologically committed to his causes, the Post has reported that the intelligence ministry had been viewed by outside CIA and Mossad officials as far more professional and competent.

If IRGC intelligence officials might sometimes be promoted to their roles due to ideological loyalty, top intelligence ministry officials usually only achieve promotion based on outstanding spycraft.

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CIA and Mossad officials have even seen the ascent of IRGC intelligence over the intelligence ministry as a positive development for them since they viewed the IRGC as slightly less formidable.