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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not involved in the negotiations or approval of the recent ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, according to information obtained by Iran International.
Decision-making regarding the truce was handled instead by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and President Masoud Pezeshkian, who moved swiftly to respond to a ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump.
A source familiar with the details of the deliberations told Iran International that the council intended to respond quickly to the American proposal. However, at the time, there was no opportunity to contact Khamenei. The ceasefire was therefore approved and communicated without the supreme leader’s knowledge.
In recent days, Khamenei’s communication capabilities have been severely limited due to security concerns, particularly fears of an attack on his location.
Iran International previously reported that Khamenei and close family members, including his son Mojtaba, were relocated to a secure bunker in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, soon after the conflict began.
Earlier this month, Iran International reported that Khamenei had transferred key decision-making powers to the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after the start of the attacks by Israel. The transfer of authority was viewed as a precautionary step to ensure continuity of command in the event of an escalation or direct threat to the leader’s safety.
Iran has not officially confirmed the location of the Supreme Leader or the details of the internal deliberations surrounding the ceasefire.
First message after ceasefire
Earlier in the day, Khamenei released his first public message since the ceasefire took effect on Tuesday, delivering a televised address in which he declared victory over Israel and said the United States was dealt a blow during the conflict.
“The Zionist regime, with all its noise and claims, was nearly brought to its knees,” he said. “The United States gained nothing and received a harsh slap in return.”
The setting of Thursday’s video matched earlier wartime messages, suggesting he remains in the same secure location.
Trump had previously posted on Truth Social that the US knew where Khamenei was hiding, describing him as an “easy target” and warning that American patience was “wearing thin.”
However, in remarks following the ceasefire announcement, Trump adopted a more measured tone, suggesting that “regime change takes chaos,” and adding, “we don’t want to see so much chaos, so we’ll see how it does.”
He also confirmed that the US is preparing for a new round of talks with Iran in the coming week.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry mocked the altered appearance of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in his latest video, suggesting he looked fearful and sun-deprived.
The Persian-language account posted: “Fear or lack of sunlight? Probably both.” Iran International earlier reported Khamenei had been moved to an underground shelter as war erupted with Israel.
Iran’s decision to enter a ceasefire with Israel was made without the direct involvement of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran International has learned.
According to information shared with Iran International, the process was led by the Supreme National Security Council and President Masoud Pezeshkian, who jointly informed the United States of the decision.
In an exclusive report earlier this month, Iran International reported that Khamenei had transferred key decision-making powers to the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after hostilities began.
The move came amid reports that the supreme leader, along with close family members including his son Mojtaba, had been relocated to an underground bunker in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, where he remained for days without making any public appearances.
The UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, “As of now, the IAEA has not received an official communication from Iran on any decision to suspend cooperation.”
Iran’s parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to suspend the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, less than a day into the ceasefire with Israel following 12 days of deadly war.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed reports that Iran had moved its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium from the Fordow nuclear facility ahead of the American airstrikes.
"The cars and small trucks at the site were those of concrete workers trying to cover up the top of the shafts. Nothing was taken out of facility. Would take too long, too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, appearing to rebut a Financial Times report citing European intelligence sources who believed the material was not at Fordow at the time of the strikes.
