Overview

Esmail Khatib is the U.S.-designated head of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The MOIS is one of the main security services of the Iranian government.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran. On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Khatib as a Specially Designated National (SDN) pursuant to cybersecurity authorities for acting or reportedly acting on the behalf of the MOIS.“Treasury Sanctions Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Minister for Malign Cyber Activities,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 9, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0941. The Treasury Department further amended Khatib’s designation on September 22 to include his role in being complicit in the commission of serious human rights abuses against Iranian citizens or residents.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran.

Khatib reportedly began his seminary studies in the holy city of Qom in 1975 or early 1976. After the 1979 Revolution and the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980, Khatib enlisted in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit, Iran’s military institution that is tasked with defending the Iranian regime against internal and external threats.“In favor of the proposed Minister of Information/Zanganeh: Mehdi Hashemi's case was investigated during Khatib's administration in Qom Intelligence/ The outcome of the parliament should benefit the people,” Fars News, https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14000531000208/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%82-%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B2%D9%86%DA%AF%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AA.

In 1985 or early 1986, Khatib joined MOIS, Iran’s premier intelligence service at the time. Shortly after, in the early 1990s, Khatib took on the role of director of the Intelligence Ministry’s branch in Qom Province, holding the role for more than a decade.“Esmail Khatib,” Iranian Regime Frauds Manipulations Atrocities Threats,” IFMAT, August 13, 2021, https://www.ifmat.org/08/13/esmail-khatib. In 2010, Khatib was appointed to the Office of Supreme Leader Protection Organization. The unit was in charge of facility and personnel protection for Ayatollah Khamenei’s inner circle. A couple of years later in 2012, Khatib was appointed director of the Judiciary branch Intelligence Protection Center, a branch that reportedly oversaw judiciary personnel.“Esmail Khatib: Islamic Republic of Iran Minister of Intelligence,” United Against Nuclear Iran, https://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/esmail-khatib-islamic-republic-of-iran-minister-of-intelligence.

Khatib was selected as minister of intelligence and security in August 2021, under the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi.“Iran File,” Critical Threats, August 18, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/iran-file/iran-file-meet-the-raisi-administration. Under Khatib’s leadership, the MOIS has negatively responded to human rights defenders, specifically cracking down on women-rights activists, journalists, filmmakers, and members of religious minority groups. During Khatib’s tenure, the MOIS has also aggressively persecuted individuals—as well as their families—reporting on human rights abuses and violations in Iran, later subjected them to torture in secret detention centers. On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the MOIS and Khatib for engaging in cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies.Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 9, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0969.

The MOIS is one part of Iran’s extensive security apparatus, which among others, includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij. The IRGC is an Iranian government agency tasked with defending the regime against internal and external threats, of which the Basij, is a paramilitary organization charged with channeling popular support for the Iranian regime.“Designating Iran’s Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran,” U.S. Department of State, September 22, 2022, https://www.state.gov/designating-irans-morality-police-and-seven-officials-for-human-rights-abuses-in-iran. In September 2022, the IRGC and the Basij joined in violently suppressing protests that erupted after the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in custody after being detained by Tehran’s morality police, the Guidance Patrol, earlier in the month. The Guidance Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later. In response, protests erupted across the country against Iran’s theocratic rule. On September 22, the IRGC issued a statement of support for Iranian police in combating the protests and accused protesters of sedition. At least 57 protesters were killed since the protests began after confrontations with Iranian security forces, but information has been limited due to disrupted and limited Internet access throughout the country.Arsalan Shahla, “Iran Launches Artillery Against Militants in Northern Iraq,” Bloomberg, September 24, 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-24/iran-launches-artillery-against-militants-in-northern-iraq; “Exclusive: IRGC Commanders’ Families Placed in Tehran ‘Safe House,” Iran Wire, September 26, 2022, https://iranwire.com/en/iran/107958-exclusive-irgc-commanders-families-placed-in-tehran-safe-house; “IRGC will not hesitate to target origin of any anti-Iran operation wherever it may be: General,” Press TV, September 27, 2022, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/09/27/689915/IRGC-will-not-hesitate-target-origin-any-anti-Iran-operation-General; Caitlin McFall, “The Guardian Patrol sent Amini to a detention center to undergo re-education when they claimed she was not wearing a hijab properly. She died three days later.,” Fox News, September 24, 2022, https://www.foxnews.com/world/protestors-clash-revolutionary-guard-northern-iran-torch-irgc-base-reports; “Iran’s Guards Break Their Silence, Warn Protesters,” Iran International, September 22, 2022, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209229946.

The Treasury Department further amended Khatib’s designation on September 22, 2022, to include Khatib’s role in being a person acting on behalf of the government of Iran who is responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents.“Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, September 22, 2022, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0969.