Iran War: Top Intelligence Chief Killed in Israeli Strike

On Monday, Iranian state media reported the death of Majid Khademi, the intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, in an Israeli airstrike. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strike, stating it was part of efforts to target Iran’s leadership. “The Revolutionary Guards are targeting civilians, and we are eliminating their leadership,” said Katz. “Iran’s leaders live with a sense of being targeted. We will continue to hunt them down one by one,” he added.

Khademi was among 25 casualties in a coordinated series of US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. In response, Iran launched drones and missiles at Gulf and Israeli targets. Meanwhile, an Iranian missile strike in Haifa, Israel, killed at least two people in an apartment building that partially collapsed late Sunday. Firefighters are still searching for two missing individuals in the rubble.

Ceasefire Proposal

Officials disclosed that Iran and the US received a new ceasefire proposal, as US President Donald Trump set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its energy infrastructure. The proposal, reportedly drafted by Egyptian, Pakistani, and Turkish mediators, calls for a 45-day pause in hostilities. It was sent to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff late Sunday night.

Unnamed sources confirmed the proposal, but an Iranian official told Reuters the country would not agree to reopening the strait during a temporary truce. They also rejected any imposed deadlines for reviewing the plan. The ceasefire talks emerged after Trump’s latest threat, which intensified pressure on Iran to de-escalate tensions.

Impact on South Korea’s Oil Supply

South Korean officials announced diplomatic initiatives to secure alternative oil routes as the Middle East conflict disrupts global energy shipments. The nation relies heavily on crude oil imports, with two-thirds of its total oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian attacks on shipping have effectively closed the critical waterway since late February, causing a global energy crisis.

To mitigate short-term shortages, Seoul released part of its strategic oil reserve in mid-March. On Monday, Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol revealed efforts to collaborate with oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Algeria. This includes dispatching special envoys and deploying South Korean-flagged tankers to the Red Sea route via Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

Israeli rescuers continue searching for survivors after the Haifa missile strike. The seven-story building sustained a direct hit, with dozens of security and rescue personnel deployed at the site. Israel, Kuwait, and the UAE reported additional missile and drone activity early Monday, though no major damage or injuries were initially reported. Kuwait’s air defenses intercepted projectiles overnight, with debris falling on an industrial facility in Abu Dhabi.