Israel gives its army a green light to assassinate Iranian leaders without political approval, and Tehran threatens new weapons

Israeli Security Minister, Israel Katz, announced a radical shift in security policy towards Tehran, confirming the issuance of a decision granting the Israeli army the authority to directly assassinate Iranian officials. Katz clarified that this authorization came in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thereby canceling previous procedures that required prior political approval from the government or the cabinet before carrying out any liquidation operation.

The Israeli minister stressed that this new approach aims to raise the level of military confrontation that Israel is waging against both Iran and Hezbollah. Katz threatened that the coming hours would witness 'big surprises' that would escalate the pace of the ongoing war, indicating that all officials in the Iranian regime have become legitimate targets and none of them enjoy immunity.

In contrast, sources from the Iranian capital, Tehran, confirmed that the Israeli threats come in the wake of assassination operations that targeted high-ranking figures, including Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Recent targeting also included the commander of the Basij forces, which sparked a wave of anger and threats within the Iranian military and political establishment, which vowed harsh and continuous responses.

The commander of the 'Khatam al-Anbiya' headquarters in the Iranian armed forces stated that Tehran is the one that holds the initiative in determining the timing, place, and method of revenge for the spilled blood. He indicated that the Iranian response will not be limited to avenging Ali Larijani and the Basij commanders, but will also include a response to the killing of naval forces students who fell as a result of targeting the battleship 'Dina' in the open sea.

The spokesman for the Iranian army revealed details of the targeting of the battleship 'Dina', which was attacked by US forces near the coasts of India and Sri Lanka at the beginning of the current escalation. Tehran confirmed that the coming days will witness the entry of new weapons and military technologies into the battlefield, weapons that have not been used in previous confrontations with Israel and the United States.

On the ground, military reports indicated that Iran carried out intensive missile waves, reaching the 61st wave, using advanced 'Khorramshahr-4' missiles. These missiles are characterized by their ability to fragment into dozens of small projectiles when approaching the target, which leads to widespread destruction in extended geographical areas that are difficult to fully counter.

According to data issued by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the explosive warheads carried by 'Khorramshahr-4' missiles weigh about two tons, which doubles their destructive power against vital targets. Iranian sources confirm that this missile power is part of Tehran's deterrence strategy to confront what it describes as the joint Israeli-American aggression against its interests in the region.

For his part, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, confirmed that his country has taken all necessary measures to secure missile launch platforms and ensure the continuity of offensive operations. Ghalibaf warned Iran's enemies against betting on the cessation of attacks, stressing that Iran's missile capabilities are designed to operate under the harshest conditions and sustainably until the set goals are achieved.

In his statements, Ghalibaf touched upon the strategic situation in the Strait of Hormuz, confirming that Iranian forces exercise full control over this important international shipping lane. He clarified that the situation in the strait will not return to its former state, in a clear indication of Tehran's intention to use its naval influence as a tool of pressure in the escalating regional conflict.

Sources indicate that Iran is moving forward with implementing the 'unity of arenas' strategy by targeting American bases spread in the region, in addition to the Israeli interior. Tehran stresses that Washington and Tel Aviv lack sufficient technical and defensive capabilities to stop the flow of missiles and suicide drones launched from Iranian territory and from its allies in the region.

In a related context, Iranian cities are witnessing today widespread funeral ceremonies for leaders and soldiers who fell in recent attacks, amid popular and official calls for the necessity of inflicting painful blows on the Israeli side. The Iranian leadership considers the assassination of figures of Ali Larijani's stature to be a transgression of all red lines, which necessitates a response commensurate with the magnitude of the political and military loss.

These developments come amid a state of maximum alert in the region, as the international community awaits the outcomes of the mutual threats between the two parties. While Israel seeks to impose a new security reality through direct assassinations, Iran is betting on its advanced missile arsenal and its ability to disrupt international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to impose new balances in the conflict.

I decided with Netanyahu to grant the army permission to assassinate any Iranian official without the need for prior government approval, and no one in Iran enjoys immunity.