US intelligence claims Iran’s supreme leader operating in isolation

U.S. intelligence assessments suggest that Iran’s supreme leader is effectively operating from an undisclosed location with extremely limited access to the outside world, relying on a complex courier system for communication, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter cited by CBS News.

The communication constraints are said to be affecting Iranian negotiators engaged in talks with the Trump administration, contributing to delays in reaching or confirming details of a potential nuclear agreement.

Officials said that when Washington sends proposed terms, delays in internal communication within Iran’s leadership structure can result in prolonged gaps before responses are received.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment on intelligence regarding the supreme leader’s whereabouts or Iran’s internal communication systems.

A senior administration official said on May 24 that the supreme leader had agreed to the contours of a draft agreement, while President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he expected final confirmation in the coming days.

According to U.S. officials, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been injured in previous strikes during Operation Epic Fury and has taken heightened security precautions to avoid targeting. He has not been publicly seen or heard from since before the start of the conflict.

The officials also claimed that intelligence obtained from within the Iranian government has enabled tracking and targeting of senior Iranian figures during the war.

At the senior level, Iranian officials are reportedly operating from heavily fortified underground facilities, with limited direct communication between leadership figures.

"Watching them try to figure out how to talk to each other is almost like watching a sitcom. They are completely exasperated," one official said.

According to the sources, even high-ranking officials do not have direct contact with the supreme leader, with all communication routed through a network of couriers intended to conceal his location.

"This is why you see people saying things like, 'The supreme leader has agreed to the framework,' or 'We're waiting to hear back on the final deal points.' Every piece of information he receives is dated and there's a lot of latency to his responses," one official said.

Officials added that the supreme leader provides only broad guidance to subordinates, outlining general negotiating positions while restricting discussion on certain issues.

By Sabina Mammadli