Khamenei has not been officially seen or heard in public since Operation Epic Fury, with reports claiming he is taking extreme security measures to avoid strikes similar to those that killed his father.
A threat of a lethal attack continues to loom over Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei; reports suggest he is currently hiding in an undisclosed secure location with minimal communication facilities. According to a report by CBS News, the only way to reach Khamenei is through a “labyrinth of couriers.”
Citing U.S. intelligence officials, the American publication reported that—amidst ongoing peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran—a highly secretive communication network has become a major impediment, as Iranian officials negotiating with the Trump administration are facing difficulties in reaching the Supreme Leader.
According to the report, this is the primary reason why details regarding a potential deal with Iran, as well as past agreements, have emerged only gradually. Officials stated that whenever Washington dispatches a new proposal, it often faces difficulties in reaching the Supreme Leader, resulting in significant delays before the U.S. receives a response.
The White House has declined to comment on intelligence regarding the Supreme Leader’s whereabouts or the methods of internal communication within Iran.
However, a senior official within the Trump administration told CBS that Khamenei had already assented to the terms of the current draft agreement prior to U.S. President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social—in which he claimed to be expecting a final decision within the coming days.
Where is Mojtaba Khamenei?
Khamenei, who was injured in U.S. and Israeli strikes during Operation Epic Fury, has neither been officially seen nor heard in public since before the war began.
Media reports claim that he is taking stringent measures to evade attacks—such as assassination attempts—similar to those targeting his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989.
An official told CBS that U.S. and Israeli forces have utilized intelligence obtained from within the Iranian government during the conflict to locate and eliminate senior Iranian leadership.
Consequently, the official noted, most Iranian leaders now avoid public appearances, spending weeks at a time in heavily fortified bunkers and communicating with one another only when absolutely necessary. “Watching them try to figure out how to talk to each other is almost like watching a sitcom,” an official remarked. “They are completely rattled.”
However, within the leadership ranks, reports suggest that it is Mojtaba Khamenei himself who is taking the most extreme precautionary measures; even Iran’s most senior officials are reportedly unaware of his whereabouts and possess no means of contacting him directly.
The report states that messages are being conveyed to him via a network of couriers in an effort to conceal his location.
“That is why you hear people making statements such as, ‘The Supreme Leader has agreed to the framework,’ or ‘We are awaiting a response regarding the final deal points,'” an official explained. “Any information they receive is outdated, and their responses arrive with significant delay.”
According to the report, Khamenei has outlined his full terms to his subordinates, instructing them on which issues are open for negotiation and which topics are strictly off-limits for discussion.
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