Iranian president confirms death of intelligence minister

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed the the killing of several senior Iranian officials, including Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, senior political figure Ali Larijani and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, saying that it was a “cowardly assassination” that had plunged the country into mourning.

In a message posted on X, Pezeshkian extended his condolences to the Iranian people over "the martyrdom" of two cabinet members, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and several military and Basij commanders, as well as some of their family members and accompanying team, Caliber.Az reports. 

ترور ناجوانمردانه همکاران عزیزم اسماعیل خطیب، علی لاریجانی و عزیز نصیرزاده در کنار بعضی از اعضای خانواده و تیم همراهشان داغدارمان کرد.
شهادت دو عضو کابینه و دبیر شعام و سرداران نظامی و بسیجی را به مردم بزرگ ایران تسلیت می‌گویم. مطمئنم راهشان محکم‌تر از قبل ادامه خواهد داشت.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 18, 2026

He said he was confident that their path would continue more steadfastly than before.

By Sabina Mammadli