Key insights
- Israeli Defense Minister claims the elimination of Iranian Intelligence Minister, escalating geopolitical tensions. While unconfirmed by Iran, the stated authorization to target senior Iranian officials heightens Middle East uncertainty. This could negatively impact US equities due to increased risk aversion and potential oil price volatility, though the direct impact is likely limited unless the situation escalates further.
March 18 (Reuters) - Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was "eliminated" in a strike overnight.
There has been no confirmation from Iran regarding Khatib's reported death.
Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorized the military to kill any other senior Iranian official being targeted without the need for additional approval.
(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)