Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Wednesday the assassination of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
In a condolence message posted on the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, Pezeshkian expressed deep sorrow over the killing of several senior Iranian officials. He stated that Khatib was killed in what he described as a “cowardly assassination operation,” alongside prominent figures including Ali Larijani and Aziz Nasirzadeh, as well as members of their families and accompanying personnel.
The president’s statement represents the first official confirmation of Khatib’s death after earlier reports circulated in Iranian media without verification. His killing adds to a growing list of high-profile casualties within Iran’s political and security establishment since the outbreak of hostilities.
The conflict sharply intensified on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military and government sites. The campaign has resulted in hundreds of deaths, including senior leadership figures such as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian and regional reports.
Tehran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks directed at Israeli targets, raising fears of a broader regional war. In addition, Iran has targeted what it describes as American interests across several Arab countries, resulting in casualties, injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure. These actions have drawn condemnation from affected states, which have rejected any involvement in the conflict.
The assassination of Khatib and other senior figures underscores the increasingly direct and high-stakes nature of the confrontation, as both sides continue to exchange strikes with little sign of de-escalation. Analysts warn that the sustained targeting of top officials could further destabilize the region and complicate any diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
