Katz said in a statement that the operation targeted Khatib as part of Israel’s ongoing military actions against senior Iranian officials. He added that he and Netanyahu had granted the military authority to eliminate additional high-ranking Iranian figures without requiring further approval.

Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed Khatib’s death, and there has been no immediate response from Tehran regarding the Israeli claim. The absence of verification leaves the status of the Iranian intelligence chief unclear.

Katz’s remarks indicate a potential broadening of Israel’s operational mandate, suggesting a shift toward faster decision-making in targeting senior adversaries. The authorization to proceed without additional political clearance points to heightened tensions and a more aggressive posture.

Regional implicationsThe reported strike, if confirmed, could mark a significant escalation in the confrontation between Israel and Iran, particularly given the seniority of the alleged target. Developments are likely to be closely monitored for their impact on regional stability and the risk of further retaliatory actions.

Speaking by phone with The Times of Israel, Trump said Netanyahu would have a role in determining how and when the conflict with Iran concludes, underscoring the close strategic alignment between the two leaders during the crisis.

Trump told the Israeli outlet that ending the war would be a “mutual” decision between Washington and Jerusalem, suggesting that Israel’s leadership would be directly involved in shaping the final stages of the conflict.

His comments signal that U.S. policy toward the war remains closely tied to consultations with Israel, a key regional ally, as military and diplomatic considerations evolve.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East as the United States and Israel confront Iran. Trump’s statement highlights the extent of coordination between the two governments as they weigh military objectives and potential diplomatic pathways to ending the hostilities.

Neither the White House nor Netanyahu’s office immediately provided additional details on the conditions that might determine the timing of a ceasefire or broader settlement.

-Israeli war with Iran pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel and intensified military and diplomatic tensions across the Middle East.Iran’s Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body responsible for selecting the supreme leader, said it had voted decisively to appoint Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third leader of the Islamic Republic, according to a statement issued shortly after midnight Tehran time.

Mojtaba Khamenei replaces his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in one of the first strikes launched against Iran during the conflict that erupted more than a week ago between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli alliance.The supreme leader holds ultimate authority over Iran’s political system, armed forces and strategic decision-making.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric known to wield influence within Iran’s security establishment and the vast economic networks built during his father’s rule, had long been viewed as a leading contender to succeed the elder Khamenei.The Assembly of Experts said the vote followed deliberations over the succession after the death of the longtime leader.

The appointment signals continuity in Iran’s ideological leadership during a period of escalating military confrontation.Iran’s armed forces leadership pledged allegiance to the new supreme leader following the announcement, reinforcing the authority of the office at a moment when the country is engaged in active conflict with regional and Western adversaries.The war has already produced significant military and economic repercussions. Oil markets reacted sharply, with U.S. crude futures surging more than 20% amid fears the conflict could disrupt energy flows from the Middle East, a region that accounts for a substantial share of global oil supply.

U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier suggested Washington should influence the selection of Iran’s next leader, remarks that risked inflaming tensions further.“If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday when asked about the succession.

After Mojtaba Khamenei was named, Trump declined to comment directly on the appointment in an interview with the Times of Israel, saying only, “We’ll see what happens.”Trump also told the newspaper that any decision to end the war would be made jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Israel had previously warned it could target whoever emerged as Iran’s next supreme leader, underscoring the stakes surrounding the succession during wartime.

The military confrontation has continued to escalate across the region. Israel struck major fuel storage facilities near Tehran as part of its campaign against Iranian infrastructure.Iran has also launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. facilities in the Middle East.The U.S. military said a seventh American service member had died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial counter-attack a week ago. The announcement came a day after Trump oversaw the return to the United States of the remains of six other U.S. personnel killed in the same attack.Amid mounting security concerns, Washington on Sunday ordered the departure of non-emergency employees from its embassy in Saudi Arabia, the latest drawdown of American diplomatic staff in the region as the conflict deepens.