President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is still in contact with Iranian officials in the wake of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, as the administration continues to pursue a diplomatic off-ramp to the escalating crisis, according to two sources who spoke with CNN.
However, those efforts have been hampered by the absence of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has reportedly gone into hiding amid fears of assassination. U.S. officials believe the 86-year-old leader has retreated to a secure, undisclosed location, making it increasingly difficult for Iranian officials to reach him. Additionally, other reports say that Khamenei is no longer communicating using electronic devices, fearing that they may be hacked.
Khamenei is seen as the ultimate decision-maker on major policy matters, and his silence—he has not released any public statements or video messages since the strikes—has complicated diplomatic engagement. Communications between the U.S. and Iran have continued through direct and indirect channels but remain inconsistent due to the Iranian leadership’s limited accessibility.
Despite the obstacles, Trump has expressed hope that Iran will return to the negotiating table following the U.S. strikes. Back-channel communications reportedly continued even before the attacks, with the U.S. signaling that its actions would be limited in scope and that diplomacy remained a viable option.
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One Response
Now is the most PERFECT time and opportunity for the Iranian people to take control of their country and overthrow the evil regime. Are the Iranian people that dumb and stupid not to jump at the opportunity while their “leader” is quivering in his boots holed up in a deep bunker with zero communication?