US intelligence assessments indicate that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is playing a critical role in Iran's war strategy despite remaining in hiding, according to a CNN report on Saturday.
Citing multiple sources familiar with US intelligence assessments, the report stated that Khamenei is likely involved in directing ongoing US-Iran negotiations, after reportedly having been injured at the start of the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
While the intelligence assessments found that precise authority within the Iranian regime is still unclear, Khamenei is reportedly working alongside other senior Iranian officials.
Other sources suggest Khamenei playing minimal role
While US intelligence indicates that Khamenei is actively involved in diplomatic strategy, a separate source familiar with the situation told CNN that there is evidence suggesting that Khamenei is actually playing a smaller role.
According to the source, Khamenei may be further removed from important decision-making processes and only sporadically accessible for communication.
Due to Khamenei's alleged inaccessibility, senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are essentially running the regime, the source stated.
An additional source familiar with the US intelligence assessments told CNN that, regarding Khamenei, “there is no indication he is actually giving orders on any ongoing basis, but nothing proving he is not.”
To date, US intelligence has not been able to confirm Khamenei’s whereabouts since he took over the role of supreme leader from his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the same strike that injured him.
One source told CNN that the ambiguity regarding Khamenei’s location and condition stems from the supreme leader's hesitance to use electronic communication.
Instead, he is only communicating with those who visit his unknown location in person or using a courier to send messages, the source added.
Khamenei holds meeting with Iranian president
On Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed he had met with Khamenei.
In a video broadcast by Iranian state media, Pezeshkian described the meeting, saying, “What struck me most during this meeting was the vision and the humble and sincere approach of the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution.”
Following the meeting, two sources told Reuters that Khamenei remains mentally sharp as he recovers from his injuries.
