Mojtaba Khamenei in isolated hideout

Senior Iranian officials are avoiding direct contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei out of concern that Israel could track their movements and use them to locate and target him, according to a New York Times report. Despite being seriously wounded, officials say Khamenei remains mentally alert and engaged, but he has undergone multiple surgeries on his leg and hand, is expected to receive a prosthetic, and suffered severe burns to his face that have made speaking difficult. President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is also a heart surgeon, and the minister of health have been personally involved in his care. Due to these security concerns and a desire not to appear weak, Khamenei has not made any public appearances or recordings, and communication with him is handled through handwritten messages passed via trusted couriers.