Khamenei was a target, no chance arose, Israel says

The Pentagon disclosed new details about the US operation that struck Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facility at Fordow, describing it as the culmination of 15 years of classified planning and weapons development to overcome one of the most fortified sites in the world.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Operation Midnight Hammer was enabled by breakthrough munitions technology that allowed six precision weapons to penetrate Iran’s underground nuclear mission center, exploiting vulnerabilities in its ventilation shafts.

According to Caine, US intelligence had tracked Iran’s recent efforts to conceal the shafts by pouring concrete caps over them—an attempt thwarted when the first US weapon shattered the barrier. The subsequent strikes, traveling at speeds of 1,000 feet per second, delivered a combination of explosive force and overpressure that “neutralized” the target.

The mission was initiated over a decade ago by an officer from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) who, upon identifying Fordow as a hard target, recognized that the US lacked the weaponry to effectively reach it.

“I spoke to the two DTRA officers who lived this single target for over a decade,” Caine said. “Their hearts were filled with pride to be part of this.”

Following the Fordow strike, Iran retaliated with a barrage of missiles aimed at US and allied targets in the Persian Gulf. At Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, 44 American service members fended off the attack in what Caine called “the single largest Patriot missile engagement in US history.”

“They had two minutes to succeed or fail,” Caine said. “They absolutely crushed it.”

All foreign internet access should be tightly restricted for several months as the war with Israel continues, Hardline Iranian official Mohammad-Javad Larijani said Thursday.

“We must abandon open-internet posturing,” said the head of the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences.

While domestic connectivity and business access should be facilitated, Iran’s national intranet must impose “complete control, limitations, and oversight” over international links, he added.

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.

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