Iran war: Killing of intelligence minister confirmed as Israel targets leaders
Thursday, 19 March 2026
The Israeli military killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, the latest in a series of high-profile deaths of Iranian leaders that have worked to destabilise the nation’s institutions and industry.
Israeli forces have also killed the nation’s top security official and the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei expressed condolences for the earlier killing of Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, according to a written statement published in Iranian media, saying, “All blood has its price that the criminal murderers of the martyrs must pay soon.”
The price of oil surged another 6% to over US$109 per barrel on international markets, increasing the cost of gasoline and other goods, putting pressure on consumers and economies worldwide.
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Iran has made navigation through shipping channels in the Strait of Hormuz virtually impossible. The U.S. Treasury Department has eased sanctions on Venezuela in an attempt to boost world oil supplies.
Facilities associated with Iran’s massive offshore South Pars natural gas field came under attack Wednesday, state media reported. Qatar, which shares the gas field with Iran, later blamed Israel for the attack.
Top Trump administration national security officials are facing back-to-back congressional hearings starting Wednesday, where they are expected to be pressed on the war in Iran.
The US-Israeli war with Iran has killed at least 1,300 people in Iran, more than 900 in Lebanon and 14 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. The US military says 13 US service members have been killed and about 200 wounded.
Khamenei’s written statement was published in Iranian media on Wednesday, a day after Israel said it killed Iran’s top security official.
“Undoubtedly, the assassination of such a person shows the extent of his importance and the hatred of the enemies of Islam towards him,” he wrote.
This is only the second statement issued in Khamenei’s name since he became supreme leader to replace his father, who was killed at the start of the war.
Israeli and US officials believe the younger Khamenei was wounded in that initial wave of attacks on Iran.