Iran confirms the assassination of the Intelligence Minister after an Israeli attack on Tehran

The president of Iran, Masud Pezeshkian, confirmed this Wednesday the assassination of the Iranian Intelligence Minister, Esmail Jatib, after an attack carried out by the Israeli Army against the capital, Tehran, within the framework of the offensive launched on February 28 together with the United States against the Asian country.

Pezeshkian has criticized in a message on social networks the “cowardly murder” of Khatib and other senior officials, including the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Lariyani, and the Minister of Defense, Aziz Nasirzadé – who died on March 16 and February 28, respectively -, “along with some of their relatives and members of their team.”

“We are heartbroken,” he said. “I offer my condolences to the great people of Iran for the martyrdom of two members of the cabinet, the secretary of the Popular Assembly and the military and Basij commanders. I am sure that their path will continue stronger than ever,” he added.

Pezeshkian’s message comes hours after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the assassination of Khatib and stressed that the man “was in charge of the murderous system and internal repression in Iran and the promotion of external threats.” “Israel’s policy is clear and unequivocal: no one in Iran has immunity and everyone is on the wire,” he threatened.

In its latest balance, Iran has confirmed more than 1,200 deaths due to the offensive by Israel and the United States, although the non-governmental organization Human Rights Activists in Iran, based in the United States, raised the death toll on Sunday to more than 3,000, mostly civilians.

Among those killed in these attacks are the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as several senior officials of the Army and security forces, including the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Golamreza Soleimani, who also died on March 16. His death was confirmed on Tuesday by Iranian authorities after Israel announced his assassination.