Iran’s intelligence chief killed: Khamenei calls for "doubled efforts" amid rising tensions
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The Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, sent a message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasizing that "the killing of the Minister of Intelligence must be compensated by doubled efforts from officials and workers."
Khamenei said, "Our enemies, both domestic and foreign, must be deprived of security while ensuring the security of the Iranians."
On March 18, Israel announced the assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an attack that also targeted the Secretary-General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani.
Khatib is known as a hardliner within Iran’s ruling system and was appointed as the Minister of Intelligence in 2021, succeeding Mahmoud Alavi, and was considered a prominent figure in the security apparatus, combining deep religious teachings with extensive intelligence experience.
Khatib’s closeness to the office of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei marked a pivotal point in his career. In 2010, he was appointed as the Chief Warden in the Supreme Leader’s office, a position that reflected a high level of trust and influence, placing him at the heart of the decision‑making mechanisms away from the spotlight.