"US Intelligence: Mojtaba Key in Formulating Iran's War Strategy"

The U.S. intelligence community has analyzed that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is playing a key role in handling practical matters related to ceasefire negotiations and the formulation of war strategies with the United States.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son elected as successor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

On May 8 (local time), CNN, citing intelligence agency sources, reported that while it remains unclear exactly where decision-making authority lies, there is a high possibility that Mojtaba Khamenei is involved in setting the direction of Iran’s ceasefire negotiations with the United States.

Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a surprise attack by Israel and the United States on February 28. He was inaugurated as the third Supreme Leader on March 8. However, since his inauguration, he has not appeared in public, leading to various speculations about his health and actual influence.

According to CNN, Khamenei has recently stopped using any electronic devices for external communication. Instead, he requires visitors to meet him in person or sends messages through couriers.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed on May 7 that he recently had a two-and-a-half-hour conversation with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

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