One reason is concern that any communication could reveal his location and put him in danger, according to three Iranian officials speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive subject in Iran. The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity. The new supreme leader’s mother, wife and a son as well as several top Iranian defence officials were also killed in that daytime attack. Iranian media began circulating a half-minute-long video with just still photographs of him and a short biography. Iranian officials said they believed the target of the strikes was Khamenei but that he was not there.

Source: The Irish Times March 11, 2026 15:40 UTC