Israel’s military said on Wednesday it had killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an airstrike in Tehran, a claim that has not yet been confirmed by Iranian authorities.
Defence Minister Israel Katz, quoted by The Times of Israel, said that “significant surprises are expected”.
If confirmed, the strike would mark the third high-profile assassination of an Iranian leader in two days, following Israeli claims on Tuesday that it had killed security chief Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Basij force.
Katz also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised the military to “[eliminate] any senior Iranian figure…without the need for additional approval”.
The conflict in West Asia, which began on February 28, has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies that handles about a fifth of the world’s oil. Iran has largely blocked international commercial traffic through the passage since hostilities escalated.
Maritime and trade data cited by the Associated Press indicated that about 90 ships, including oil tankers, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, even as global oil prices have continued to rise. Between March 1 and 15, at least 89 vessels, including 16 oil tankers, transited the route, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. More than a fifth of these ships were linked to Iran, while others were associated with China and Greece. Some were reported to have carried out “dark” transits, switching off tracking systems to avoid sanctions.
India said its liquefied petroleum gas carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi crossed the strait late last week, while a Pakistani-flagged crude oil tanker operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation also passed through, AP reported.
Iran and Russia said a projectile struck the grounds of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday, though neither country reported any release of nuclear material. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed by Iran of the incident and that there was no damage to the facility or injuries to personnel. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.
Iran said it launched cluster missiles at central Israel on Tuesday in what it described as retaliation for the killing of security official Ali Larijani. Strikes in the Ramat Gan area near Tel Aviv killed two people. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attack was carried out “for the blood of martyr Dr Ali Larijani and his companions”.
Oil prices fell by more than $2 per barrel on Wednesday after Iraq and Kurdish authorities agreed to resume exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port, Reuters reported. Brent crude dropped 2.1% to $101.1 after rising by more than 3% a day earlier, though prices have remained above $100 for four consecutive sessions due to the conflict.
The United States said it had carried out strikes using 5,000-pound (2,250 kg) bombs on Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz, saying the targets posed a threat to international shipping.
Israel’s health ministry said 3,272 people have been injured since the conflict began, with 74 still in hospital, including seven in serious condition.
The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, saying Tehran posed an existential threat to Israel. Iran has since retaliated with attacks on Israel, U.S. bases in the region and targets in Gulf states, as well as shipping.
Israel has long said Iran is close to acquiring nuclear weapons capability, which it argues would shift the regional balance of power. Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.
The International Energy Agency said the fighting has caused the “largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market”.