U.S. officials stated on May 25, 2026, that negotiations between the United States and Iran have been hindered by the isolation of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. According to these officials, Khamenei is operating from a location with limited access to the outside world, making communication within the Iranian government challenging. CBS News reported that Khamenei can only be reached through a complex network of couriers, leading to delays in responses to U.S. proposals.
The officials noted that the time taken for Khamenei to receive information results in outdated responses. This report follows President Donald Trump's comments suggesting that a recent peace agreement with Iran has been largely negotiated, although a senior U.S. official indicated that final approval could take several days. Trump later clarified that the deal has not been fully negotiated yet.
Some Republican Senators have expressed opposition to the potential deal, including Senators Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Roger Wicker. In response to criticism, Trump asserted that any deal made with Iran would be beneficial.
Additionally, oil prices reportedly fell after U.S. officials agreed in principle to a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The report also mentioned that many high-ranking Iranian officials have limited means to contact Khamenei directly, with some spending extended periods in bunkers. U.S. and Israeli intelligence has reportedly played a role in targeting Iran's senior leadership during the ongoing conflict.
Khamenei has not been seen in public since before the war began, and Iranian officials recently disclosed details about injuries he sustained from a strike earlier this year.