Major General Seyed Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran, marking the latest in a series of targeted killings that have decimated Iranian leadership since the United States and Israel began operations against Iran in late February. Israel's defense minister confirmed the operation, describing Khademi as one of the top three leaders of the Revolutionary Guards.
The precision strike eliminated one of Iran's most senior intelligence operatives at a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict. According to the Israeli Defense Forces, Khademi played a central role in gathering intelligence used by Iran's leadership to plan operations against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide, as well as efforts targeting U.S. interests.
"We assassinated IRGC intelligence chief Majid Khademi," Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Monday, confirming what Iranian state media had reported earlier. The Israeli Air Force carried out the operation based on what officials described as precise intelligence.
Khademi's death represents the continuation of Israel's systematic targeting of Iranian intelligence leadership. He had served as IRGC intelligence chief since June 2025, when his predecessor was killed in Israeli strikes as part of Operation Rising Lion. The strategy aims to disrupt Iran's ability to coordinate global operations and suppress internal dissent.
The timing proves particularly significant as President Donald Trump has escalated threats against Iran's critical infrastructure. Trump stepped up his warnings Sunday, threatening to target power plants and bridges if Iran doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline. "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran," Trump wrote on social media.
Beyond his external intelligence role, the IDF said Khademi oversaw surveillance of Iranian civilians as part of the regime's internal repression apparatus. The Revolutionary Guards described him as someone who had "devoted much of his life to strengthening Iran's security and stability while confronting the schemes of its enemies."
"Khademi was involved in advancing attacks against Israel and Jewish targets worldwide, as well as efforts targeting U.S. interests." — Israeli Defense Forces statement
The assassination comes amid broader escalation across the region. Israel also struck Iran's largest petrochemical facility in Asaluyeh on Monday, targeting what Katz called "a central target responsible for about 50% of the country's petrochemical production." The facility represents a crucial component of Iran's energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Iranian missile strikes continued to target Israeli cities. Attacks on Haifa killed at least two people and injured others when missiles hit residential areas, while strikes across Iran have reportedly killed more civilians as the conflict intensifies.
Israel has killed a number of Iran's most senior officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, and Ali Larijani, a top national security official who had effectively been running Iran. Khademi was one of several Iranian officials who occupied their post for only a few months, as Israel has ramped up its killing of top Iranian generals, senior officials and nuclear scientists.
The systematic elimination of Iranian leadership reflects a broader strategy to degrade the regime's operational capabilities. The loss of experienced officials creates operational challenges for Iran's security apparatus, though analysts note that such decapitation strategies can sometimes produce unintended consequences.
European leaders have begun calling for de-escalation. European Council President António Costa warned Monday that "escalation will not achieve a ceasefire and peace," likely directing his comments at Trump's infrastructure threats. However, the momentum toward further confrontation appears to be accelerating rather than slowing.
The removal of institutional knowledge and established networks may create power vacuums that benefit more radical elements within the Revolutionary Guards. Trump's infrastructure threats add another dimension to the escalation, with his warning about targeting South Pars energy fields coming with a promise to "massively blow up the entirety" of the facility if Iran continues striking Qatar's energy infrastructure.
Such threats represent a significant expansion of potential targets beyond military and intelligence assets. With Iran's intelligence hierarchy severely disrupted and Trump's Tuesday deadline looming, the conflict appears poised for further escalation.
The systematic targeting of Iranian leadership has weakened the regime's operational capacity, but may also eliminate potential moderating influences within the power structure. With Trump's ultimatum approaching, the region faces the prospect of expanded infrastructure targeting alongside continued intelligence operations.
