The assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, is being described by experts and former intelligence officials as the culmination of decades of systematic intelligence gathering by Israeli services, with technological and operational support from US agencies, including the CIA. According to Israeli military officials, the 86-year-old Khamenei was killed along with seven members of “the Iranian security leadership” who were in different parts of Tehran. The attacks, according to reports by The Guardian, occurred almost simultaneously, within 60 seconds. It is also reported that about 40 other senior Iranian officials were killed.
The operation reportedly marked the start of an air campaign undertaken by Israel and the US, with the aim of overthrowing the theocratic regime in Tehran, plunging the region into a new cycle of insecurity.
Former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin described the attack as a “tactical and operational surprise,” as it was expected to happen at night. According to reports in The New York Times, the CIA allegedly provided key information about a high-level meeting in the heart of Tehran and informed the Israeli side of Khamenei’s presence and the exact time of the meeting. Former CIA officer Reuel Marc Gerecht emphasized that the US possesses advanced technological capabilities, while Israel has built deep networks of agents on the ground for years.
Mossad has been focused on Iran for decades, building networks of informants and operatives. Israeli analyst Yossi Melman said the agency’s strategy changed about 20 years ago, recruiting local agents in Iran and equipping them with advanced technology. The current head of Mossad, David Barnea, is said to have created a special department for sensitive operations in the Middle East. Meanwhile, former Mossad counterterrorism chief Oded Ailam said the 60-second operation was the result of years of preparation. “The modern battlefield is defined by data, access, trust and time. One minute can change an entire region,” he said.
The decision to eliminate Khamenei was reportedly considered earlier, but Donald Trump had expressed reservations due to fears of regional escalation. However, some experts warn that eliminating a leader does not guarantee a long-term solution. Yossi Melman emphasized that leaders are replaced, while a CIA veteran described the assassination as a “strategic mistake.” The question that remains is whether eliminating the supreme leader will accelerate the weakening of the Iranian regime or pave the way for even more radical developments in an already fragile Middle East.
