Utility firms hit in strike on Asaluyeh petrochemical hub - IRGC media

The goal of continuing the war is to push the enemy toward “real regret,” said an Iranian military spokesman on Monday, describing the approach as strategically rational rather than emotional.

“The aim of continuing the war is to bring the enemy to a point of real regret; this may be seen by some as an emotional approach, but in fact it is entirely based on strategic rationality,” Mohammad Akraminia said.

He added that the objective was to prevent future conflicts by raising deterrence to a level where the adversaries would not risk further action against Iran.

The adversaries had so far failed to achieve their objectives, while Iran had responded to threats and, in some cases, carried out reciprocal actions, he said.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had killed Kamil Melhem, the artillery commander of the Imam Hussein Division, in an airstrike in Lebanon a day earlier.

The IDF said the strike on Sunday hit the division’s main fire-control headquarters and also killed several other fighters, including aides to division commander Yahya Hussein.

According to the Israeli military, Melhem oversaw artillery fire toward Israel and Israeli troops and was one of the division’s key commanders.

The military said he was also involved in weapons procurement and worked in the office of the division commander.

Israel described the Imam Hussein Division as an Iran-linked force used by the Quds Force to support the so-called Axis of Resistance and carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians.

The IDF said the strike had significantly weakened the division.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel killed Asghar Bakeri – aka Commander Bagheri or Yazdan Mir – the head of Unit 840 in Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force, in an overnight operation, according to a post on X.

Netanyahu said Bakeri had been responsible for attacks targeting Jews and Israelis around the world.

He also said Israel killed Majid Khademi, the head of IRGC intelligence, describing him as a senior figure who had recently taken up the post after his predecessor was killed.

“Whoever acts to murder our citizens, whoever directs terror against the State of Israel, whoever builds the Iranian axis of evil, bears responsibility for his own blood,” Netanyahu said.

He said Israel would keep operating “with strength and determination” on all fronts until the threat was removed and war goals were achieved.

Majid Khademi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence arm killed in Tehran on Sunday, was involved in activities against Israel, the US, and Iranian dissidents, the Israeli military said on Monday.

“Khademi worked to advance terrorist activities against the State of Israel and against Jewish targets worldwide. He also took part in attempts to target American individuals and was responsible for monitoring Iranian civilians as part of the regime’s suppression of internal protests,” read the statement by Israel Defense Forces.

The IDF described him as a key figure in operations directed both abroad and inside Iran.

Iran has drafted its response to proposals conveyed through mediators and will announce it when necessary, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations could not take place under threats, warning that US threats to target infrastructure would amount to war crimes.

He added that Iran’s focus remained on defending the country amid ongoing attacks, while diplomacy continued alongside military efforts.

The foreign ministry spokesman said proposals, including a 15-point US plan relayed via Pakistan and other countries, were “excessive, unusual and unreasonable” and not acceptable to Tehran.