Iran Confirms Intelligence Minister's Death; Supreme Leader Says Larijani's Killers Will Pay the Price; US and Israel Show "Endgame Objective" Differences

The US and Israel’s military strikes against Iran have entered their 19th day, with conflicts continuing to escalate across multiple dimensions.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi confirmed on Wednesday, the 18th, that Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Ismail Hatikab, has been killed. Previously, several senior officials, including Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also died in the attack, causing unprecedented shocks within Tehran’s core power circles.

According to CCTV News, on Wednesday evening local time, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement regarding Larijani’s death: “The perpetrators will pay the price for this blood debt.”

Meanwhile, CCTV cited U.S. sources indicating that U.S. officials revealed clear differences with Israel over the “ultimate goal” of the war. The Trump administration favors ending major operations after achieving core military objectives, while Israel is more focused on regime change.

Iran announced on Wednesday the launch of its 62nd wave of attacks against the U.S. and Israel, firing missiles at multiple Israeli cities. Israeli emergency services reported two deaths. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that during ongoing military conflict, “it’s not the time to consider resuming negotiations,” and U.S.-Iran nuclear diplomacy has fallen into deadlock.

High-level Iranian officials continue to be targeted; Tehran vows revenge

On the 18th, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi revealed via social media that Intelligence Minister Ismail Hatikab was killed, also mentioning the recent deaths of Ali Larijani and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. He wrote:

“My dear colleagues Ismail Hatikab, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, along with some of their family members and accompanying personnel, were heinously murdered. We are deeply saddened. I believe their paths will continue more firmly than ever.”

The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on March 17, saying that on March 16, the Israeli Air Force carried out a precise strike on Larijani near Tehran. The statement characterized Larijani as Iran’s “de facto leader” and claimed that after the death of the late Supreme Leader Khamenei, he “led operations against Israel and regional countries.”

Regarding this loss, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated that Larijani’s death would not be a “fatal blow” to Iran’s leadership nor shake Iran’s political structure. Iranian Army Commander Amir Hatami declared that Iran would respond “decisively” to make the enemy “regret.”

CCTV cited Iranian media reports that Iran has pre-designated 3 to 7 replacement candidates for all key government and military leadership positions, indicating that Tehran has made contingency plans for ongoing strikes.

According to Xinhua, on the afternoon of the 18th, Iran held a funeral in Tehran to mourn the officers and soldiers killed when the U.S. Navy sank an Iranian warship, as well as Iranian security officials and military commanders killed in Israeli attacks. The funeral was held at Revolution Square, attended by family members of the deceased, government officials, and military commanders.

Previously, Xinhua reported that on March 11, Iran held a memorial and farewell ceremony in Tehran for senior military commanders and civilians killed in U.S.-Israeli attacks, including Iran’s Army Chief of Staff Musa, IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Committee Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

U.S. demands to approve attacks on oil facilities; White House considers uranium enrichment as an option

According to CCTV News, although Trump maintains close communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there are clear differences between the U.S. and Israel regarding the “ultimate goal” of the war and risk tolerance. Officials within the Trump administration favor ending major operations after weakening Iran’s missile, nuclear, naval capabilities, and proxy networks, while Israel is more focused on regime change through high-level assassinations.

CCTV mentioned that a White House official stated, “Israel’s focus is different; we understand that,” and noted that Israel “prefers targeting Iran’s leadership.”

On energy issues, tensions also exist. The U.S. prioritizes stabilizing global oil prices. Israel’s previous attack on Iranian oil storage facilities drew U.S. dissatisfaction, and the White House has required Israel to seek prior approval for future related actions.

Regarding nuclear fuel, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that seizing Iran’s enriched uranium is a “considerable option” for Trump. She was reluctant to “rule out this possibility” but emphasized that the goal of the war “is of course to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile arsenals.”

Iran continues counterattacks; Bushehr nuclear power plant affected

In response to ongoing high-level losses, Iran’s IRGC announced on the 18th the launch of the 62nd wave of “Operation True Commitment,” claiming to “completely strike” all U.S. military bases and Israeli troop gathering points in the region, targeting locations including Akko, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Bnei Beraq, using missiles such as “Qader,” “Khoramshahr,” and “Imad.”

In the early hours of the 18th, smoke rose from multiple locations in Israel following missile attacks. Israeli emergency services reported two deaths from this attack.

Israel also continued its strikes. On the 18th, the IDF announced that on the 17th, it carried out airstrikes in Tehran targeting the IRGC’s security headquarters, a ballistic missile command center, and multiple air defense systems. IDF spokesperson Efi Duvlin openly stated that the IDF would “hunt down” Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

Notably, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization reported that on the evening of the 17th, an enemy projectile struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant area but caused no damage to the facility or personnel.

Europe refuses to intervene; prospects for nuclear negotiations bleak

Diplomatically, CCTV News reports that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking before the Bundestag on the 18th, emphasized that as long as the war continues, Germany will not participate in related military actions, including using force in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure navigation freedom, citing lack of clear plans and UN, EU, or NATO authorization. He also stated that Germany does not rule out diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict quickly.

Scholz pointed out that the U.S. has not consulted Europe on related actions. He warned that further escalation could severely impact European security, energy supplies, and migration.

Trump has repeatedly called on European countries, Japan, and South Korea to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that NATO’s non-cooperation could lead to “very bad” consequences. On March 17, Trump stated on social media that most NATO allies have informed the U.S. they will not participate in related military actions, and claimed that the U.S. no longer “needs” NATO’s help.

On nuclear diplomacy, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on the 18th that, given the ongoing military conflict, Iran is unlikely to return to nuclear negotiations with the U.S. until U.S.-Israeli military actions cease and Iran’s countermeasures are completed. “It’s not the time to consider resuming negotiations,” he stated.

Grossi explicitly said, “As long as military operations continue, I believe there will be no negotiations.” He previously participated in the last round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks mediated by Oman in Geneva before the outbreak of hostilities.