Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei continues to influence the country's military strategy and negotiations with the United States, despite his injury and isolation.
This was reported by the portal of the American broadcaster CNN, citing US intelligence.
According to the channel, it is unknown what powers Khamenei currently has, but he is likely to influence how Iran negotiates to end the war with the United States.
Khamenei has not appeared in public since he was injured as a result of the US and Israeli attack on Iran. US intelligence cannot confirm his whereabouts. According to sources, he does not use electronic means of communication and communicates only through couriers and personal meetings. All this is because Khamenei still needs medical attention after severe burns to his face, hand, torso and leg.
At the same time, a senior official from the office of the Supreme Leader of Iran said that Khamenei is supposedly "completely healthy". According to him, he suffered minor injuries to his foot and lower back, as well as a shrapnel wound to his ear.
The US believes that the Iranian regime remains divided, and the real power may be held by the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the speaker of the parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf.
Despite the US and Israeli strikes, US intelligence believes that Iran has retained a significant part of its military capabilities. It is estimated that two-thirds of the country's missile launchers could survive the strikes, and Iran's economy is able to withstand up to four more months of US blockade.
The administration of President Donald Trump continues to insist on a diplomatic end to the conflict. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Iranian system of government is now "very fragmented and dysfunctional," which complicates negotiations.
At the same time, the White House claims that Iran is weakening due to a military blockade and internal contradictions, and the United States has "all the trump cards" in negotiations to end the war and Tehran's nuclear program.
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