Iran's New Supreme Leader Directs War and Diplomacy, US Intel Says

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, is directly involved in shaping the country’s political and military strategy during the ongoing conflict, according to US intelligence assessments cited by CNN. The reports indicate that Khamenei is steering the nation’s war effort and diplomatic course alongside senior regime figures.

Intelligence sources told the American network that Khamenei is also guiding the negotiation track with Washington aimed at ending the war. His communication methods are described as extremely limited, relying on face-to-face meetings or messages delivered through intermediaries, with no use of electronic devices.

Rare Meeting with President

In a related development, Iranian officials told the sources that President Masoud Pezeshkian held a lengthy meeting with Khamenei. This marks the first publicly acknowledged encounter with a high-ranking official since questions about the leader’s role intensified, and is seen as an attempt to project the continued existence of a functioning decision-making center within the state.

Despite US strikes, intelligence reports assess that Iran’s military capabilities have not collapsed, with a significant portion of its missile launch platforms still believed to be operational. The CIA has also estimated that the Iranian economy could withstand the pressure of the blockade for several more months, even amid growing internal strains.

Washington’s View

In Washington, the US administration maintains that the Iranian system is suffering from "internal fragmentation," which hampers its ability to present a unified negotiating position. American officials assert that sustained sanctions and military operations have severely degraded Tehran’s capabilities, though they have not led to a complete collapse.

Analysts cited in the reports suggest that the ambiguity surrounding Iran’s leadership could be used politically from within the system itself—either to redistribute power or to justify negotiating decisions in the name of a supreme authority whose presence remains unclear.