President Donald Trump’s envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has continued to maintain contact with Iranian officials following the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend, two sources confirmed, as the administration pursues a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
However, his efforts are reportedly facing major challenges due to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is said to have become largely unreachable by Iranian officials, having retreated to a secret location amid rising tensions.
According to the sources, all major diplomatic decisions require Khamenei’s approval. But delivering and receiving information from him has become increasingly difficult. This has slowed or even completely halted direct or indirect communication between the US and Iran.
Khamenei has yet to issue an official response following the US strikes. American officials believe he may be in hiding to avoid a potential assassination attempt.
Nonetheless, President Trump has expressed hope that Iran will return to the negotiation table — talks that had already stalled prior to the recent Israeli offensive.
Throughout the ongoing crisis, the US and Iran have maintained unofficial and secret channels of communication. Prior to the weekend strikes, the US had reportedly sent a message emphasizing that the operations would be limited in scope and that Trump remained committed to resolving the situation diplomatically, officials said.
