Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei offered condolences to President Masoud Pezeshkian after the targeted killing of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib by Israel. Khamenei urged officials to strengthen security and continue the ministry’s work despite the loss
-1773999094053_d.png "Iranian Supreme Leader condoles death of intelligence Minister Khatib after Israeli strikes")
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. File Pic
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, expressed his condolences on the killing of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib in a message to President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian state media Press TV, as reported by ANI.
Khamenei said, “Undoubtedly, their absence must be compensated by the redoubled efforts of other officials and employees of that sensitive ministry, and security must be wrested from internal and external enemies and bestowed upon the general public of our compatriots.”
The condolences come after the release of a previously unseen video of Khamenei teaching religious science to pupils, shared by IRIB.
Israeli strike kills Khatib
On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they killed Esmail Khatib in a targeted strike in Tehran. The IDF stated that Khatib had been involved in suppressing Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022–2023, and had overseen terrorist activities against Israelis and Americans worldwide.
The IDF added in a post on X, “The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence possesses advanced intelligence capabilities, overseeing surveillance, espionage, and covert operations worldwide, particularly against Israeli and Iranian citizens.”
🔴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
Broader impact of strikes
The strike on Khatib follows a series of US-Israeli operations targeting top Iranian officials. Earlier this week, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Press TV also confirmed the death of Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as per ANI reports.
President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killings as “cowardly assassinations” and said they “left us heartbroken.” He added on X that the legacy of those lost “will continue stronger than before.”
Iran affirms political stability
Despite the loss of senior leaders, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that the nation’s political system remains strong. He said, “The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure. The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions.”
Araghchi acknowledged the influence of individual leaders but insisted that the overall system is resilient, stating, “What matters is that the political system in Iran is a very solid structure.”
(With ANI Inputs)
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