Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, reported that Esmail Khatib, the Iranian Intelligence Minister, was killed in an overnight attack in Tehran. This assertion is based on information from Israeli media, yet the Iranian government has not confirmed Khatib's death. The announcement has sparked significant concern given the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly in the realm of military operations and espionage in the region.

Katz further stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have given the Israeli military the green light to kill any other senior Iranian officials within reach, without requiring additional approval. This escalation in Israeli military policy signals a marked shift in strategy, as it opens the door for potential future operations against key figures within the Iranian regime. Analysts suggest this could lead to retaliatory actions from Iran, which might further intensify the already volatile situation in the Middle East.

In response to these developments, Iran's foreign minister stated that such assassinations would not destabilize the Tehran regime, pointing out that critical positions within the government have contingency plans for replacement. This assertion indicates Iran's confidence in maintaining its regime stability despite external pressures. As the situation evolves, international observers will be closely monitoring for repercussions and any shift in regional power dynamics resulting from these explicit threats and actions by Israel.