Al Jazeera: Khatib’s death seen as weakening Iran’s religious, intelligence leadership

The killing of top Iranian cleric and intelligence figure Khatib is expected to create a significant void within the country’s power structure, Al Jazeera reports.

Khatib ticked every box in terms of his position within the power structure. He was a graduate of Qom, and one of his teachers was the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. So he was really one of the top scholars.

Khatib also held the title of Hujjat al-Islam, meaning “the proof of Islam,” one of the highest religious titles in Iran. This placed him in a prominent position both religiously and ideologically. In addition, he had decades of experience in intelligence, particularly in civilian intelligence, and was widely regarded by Israel and other observers as a hardliner.

One of his goals was to crack down on corruption inside government institutions. His alleged killing will no doubt cause a dent in the remaining power structure of the government.

Observers suggest that Israel may be capitalizing on such targeted operations. They are counting on removing every single individual who can be of interest or importance, or who can play a role in solidifying and maintaining the existence of this government.

By Vafa Guliyeva