Iran Appoints Unnamed Caretaker for Intelligence Ministry After Khatib Killed, Senior MOIS Officials Also Eliminated

Iranian state sources reported the appointment of a caretaker for the Ministry of Intelligence following the elimination of Ismail Khatib. Seyed Mehdi Tabatabai, deputy for communications and information in Masoud Pezeshkian's office, posted on X claiming that immediately after Khatib's killing, a "caretaker decree for the Intelligence Ministry" was issued by the president and communicated to the relevant authorities. He stated that "information will be provided at the appropriate time" and declined to name the new caretaker. The omission of the new caretaker's name is likely due to fear of him being targeted by Israeli and American forces. The elimination of the Intelligence Minister and senior MOIS officials is not limited to Ismail Khatib — in recent days, senior figures of the repressive institution have also been killed in Israeli military strikes, including: Jalal Pourhossein, head of the counterintelligence division; Yahya Hosseini Panjaki (known as Hamidi), Deputy Minister for Internal Security; Mohsen Mahdavi Kalateh, another Deputy Intelligence Minister; and Mohammad Baseri.