Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed that Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was martyred in an overnight attack by Israel. This is the third killing of a senior Iranian official in two days, according to the reports.
The announcement came just hours after the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the minister had been killed.
Pezeshkian strongly condemned the killings. He called them cowardly attacks on his colleagues.
The post reads, “The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues Ismail Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, alongside some of their family members and accompanying team, has left us in deep mourning.”
“I extend my condolences to the great people of Iran for the martyrdom of two cabinet members, the secretary of the Shura, and the military and Basij commanders. I am certain their path will continue more steadfastly than before,” it further read.
ترور ناجوانمردانه همکاران عزیزم اسماعیل خطیب، علی لاریجانی و عزیز نصیرزاده در کنار بعضی از اعضای خانواده و تیم همراهشان داغدارمان کرد.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 18, 2026
شهادت دو عضو کابینه و دبیر شعام و سرداران نظامی و بسیجی را به مردم بزرگ ایران تسلیت میگویم. مطمئنم راهشان محکمتر از قبل ادامه خواهد داشت.
‘Israel has assassinated adversaries for years’
Israel has carried out assassinations of its opponents for many years, Al Jazeera reports.
According to Al Jazeera, several Hamas leaders in and outside Gaza have been killed over time.
These include top political leader Yahya Sinwar, military commander Mohammed Deif, and political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, the report adds.
Other figures killed include longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon and former Houthi prime minister Ahmed Rahawi in Yemen, it further adds. Israeli officials have indicated such actions may continue.
Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani martyred
Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has been martyred in the Israeli strikes, according to Iranian media.
He was the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Reports say he was killed along with his son Mortaza in eastern Tehran during the strikes carried out by Israel and the United States.
His death was also confirmed through his X account, stating that he has passed away as a martyr.
The post said, “Dear and proud nation of Iran! To the Muslim peoples and the free people of the world: “A servant of God has joined God.” Indeed, a servant among the servants of God has reached his Lord as a martyr.”
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 17, 2026
ملت عزیز و سربلند ایران!
الشعوب المسلمة وأحرار العالم:
«بندهی خدا، به خدا پیوست.»
لقد لحق عبدٌ من عباد الله بربّه شهيدًا. pic.twitter.com/G1kZUqbg1L
