Big development in Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei expressed grief over the assassination of intelligence minister.

Iran’s Supreme Leader **Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei** (son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in the initial US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026) sent a message of condolence to President **Masoud Pezeshkian** following the assassination of Intelligence Minister **Ismail Khatib** (also spelled Ismail Khatib). This information was given by Iranian government media (Tasnim, Press TV) on March 20, 2026.

In his statement, Khamenei described Khatib as a “hard-working” and “hard-working” minister, and urged efforts to be stepped up to compensate for his absence: “Undoubtedly, his absence should be compensated by the doubled efforts of other officials and employees of that sensitive ministry, and security should be provided to the masses of our countrymen by wresting it from internal and external enemies.”

The message followed a video released by **IRIB** (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) on ​​the same day. IRIB described it as the first public video of Mojtaba Khamenei—showing him giving religious teachings to attentive students, in an undated (possibly old) clip. The video came at a time when there was speculation over his health and public appearance after succeeding his father through the ‘Assembly of Experts’ on March 8-9, 2026.

Khatib was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on March 18, 2026 (confirmed by the IDF and Iranian President Pezeshkian). It was the latest in a series of high-profile assassinations. The IDF cited their role in suppressing protests (including the Mahsa Amini protests of 2022–2023), overseeing surveillance/espionage, and operations against Israelis/Americans.

Also on March 20, Iran’s IRGC confirmed the death of its spokesman, Brigadier General **Ali Mohammad Naini** (or Naini), in US-Israeli strikes.

This follows earlier assassinations: the head of the Supreme National Security Council **Ali Larijani** and Basij commander **Golamreza Soleimani** were killed on March 17.

President Pezeshkian condemned these “cowardly killings”, and pledged that this path would continue “more strongly than ever”. Foreign Minister **Abbas Araghchi** stressed that Iran’s political structure remains “extremely strong” and has not been affected by any individual damage.

Amid the escalating war, the current US and Israeli campaign continues to target Iranian leadership and infrastructure.