Mojtaba Khamenei Hides in Secret Location and Communicates via Couriers
Iran’s leadership is reportedly in a state of severe dysfunction amid efforts by the Donald Trump administration to finalise a nuclear deal. Recent reports state that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is currently hiding in a secret location undisclosed to the public and communicating with his government solely through physical couriers.
According to CBS News, citing US officials, security protocols are so extreme that even senior Iranian officials lack direct access to contact the leader. This situation is the primary reason for the extremely slow pace of diplomatic negotiations.
Senior Iranian officials authorised to negotiate with the Trump administration have admitted difficulties in internal coordination. Each time Washington sends draft proposals or technical details, Tehran takes an unusually long time to respond.
‘Watching them try to communicate with each other is almost like watching a sitcom. They are truly desperate,’ a US official told CBS News.
These extraordinary security measures are a direct result of ongoing conflict. Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly injured in US and Israeli attacks during Operation Epic Fury, which also killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989.
Since the war began, Mojtaba has not been seen or heard from publicly. US and Israeli intelligence, which has penetrated Iran’s internal government, has crippled much of the senior leadership, forcing remaining officials to spend weeks in heavily fortified bunkers and avoid direct contact with each other.
Despite communication chaos within Iran, a senior US administration official stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader fundamentally approves the broad outlines of the current draft agreement.
President Donald Trump, in a post on Sunday (24 May 2026), expressed optimism that a final resolution would be reached within days. However, the White House declined to comment officially on intelligence regarding Khamenei’s whereabouts or Iran’s highly secretive internal communication methods.
Global markets continue to monitor developments, as the agreement is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stabilise global energy prices that had surged due to the blockade.
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