Israel kills Iran Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in overnight Tehran strike — Katz confirms, authorizes open-ended IDF targeting of senior Iranian officials

Israeli Defense Minister Katz confirmed that Iran Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib was killed in an overnight airstrike on Tehran. Iranian state television subsequently confirmed his death. President Pezeshkian issued a statement: The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues Esmail Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, along with some of their family members and accompanying team, has left us heartbroken. Khatib served as Iran Minister of Intelligence (MOIS) since August 2021. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022 for alleged cyber operations against the US and allies. Fox News confirmed his targeting was a joint US-Israel intelligence operation. He was on the US 10 million dollar reward list posted last week alongside Larijani. Katz announced that he and PM Netanyahu have authorized the IDF to eliminate any senior Iranian official being targeted without requiring additional approval per strike. He added that significant surprises are expected during the day. Pezeshkian also mourned Nasirzadeh (defense minister, killed Day 1) and Larijani in the same statement, reflecting the cumulative grief over senior officials lost throughout the war. Tulsi Gabbard, US Director of National Intelligence, testified to the Senate on March 18 that the US intelligence community assesses the Iranian regime to be intact but largely degraded due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities.