Where Is Mojtaba Khamenei? Iran Supreme Leader ‘Holed Up’ In Secret Location, Communicating Through Couriers

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 09:59 IST

Iranian Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be hiding in an undisclosed location with very limited access to the outside world.

Three months into the West Asia conflict, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains absent from public view, with reports suggesting he is living under extreme security conditions after surviving US and Israeli strikes earlier this year.

According to a CBS report citing US officials, the Iranian leader is believed to be hiding in an undisclosed location with very limited access to the outside world.

Officials said communication with him now takes place through a complex network of couriers designed to conceal his location.

Mojtaba’s absence big issue in peace talks

US officials said the communication system inside Iran has become one of the biggest reasons behind delays in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Iranian officials involved in talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump are reportedly struggling to communicate effectively within their own government structure.

Officials said when the United States sends proposals or negotiation details, there are often long delays before a response is received because messages take time to reach the supreme leader.

“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,’" one US official said.

“Every piece of information he receives is dated and there’s a lot of latency to his responses," the official added.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment on intelligence assessments regarding Mojtaba Khamenei’s location or Iran’s communication methods.

Extreme security measures

US and Israeli intelligence agencies reportedly obtained sensitive information from inside the Iranian government during the war, allowing several senior Iranian leaders to be located and targeted.

Officials said the surviving Iranian leadership now spends most of its time inside heavily fortified bunkers.

According to sources, many senior officials avoid direct communication unless absolutely necessary. “Watching them try to figure out how to talk to each other is almost like watching a sitcom. They are completely exasperated," one official reportedly said.

The strictest precautions are believed to be surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei himself. US officials told CBS that even senior figures inside the Iranian government do not know his exact location or have direct access to him.

Instead, instructions are reportedly passed through couriers operating inside a secret communication network.

28 February strike

Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly survived Israeli and US strikes during Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

According to reports, he was inside the leadership compound in central Tehran when Israeli “Blue Sparrow" ballistic missiles struck the residence.

However, he survived because he had briefly stepped into the garden area and suffered only a minor leg injury.

His father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was killed during the strikes. Ali Khamenei had ruled Iran from 1989 until February 28, 2026.

After the attack and Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection as supreme leader in early March 2026, he has not appeared publicly or spoken on camera.

Iranian state media have released only brief and unverified footage of Mojtaba Khamenei in recent months.

Reports said the videos were undated and did not reveal where they were recorded.

Experts believe the carefully controlled footage reflects concerns over both his security and condition.

Multiple reports described him as effectively “hidden in plain sight" inside fortified Iranian-controlled facilities. So far, there has been no reliable evidence suggesting that Mojtaba Khamenei has left Iran.

US-Iran deal

Despite the communication difficulties, a senior Trump administration official said on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei had agreed to the broad contours of the current draft peace framework being discussed between Iran and the United States.

Trump also wrote on Truth Social that he expected final word on the agreement within the next few days.

Officials said Mojtaba Khamenei had provided broad guidance to negotiators, outlining which issues could be discussed and which subjects should remain off limits during talks with Washington.

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