The Times further detailed that the burns to Khamenei’s face and lips are so severe that they impede his ability to speak, necessitating future plastic surgery.

The report also reveals a climate of apprehension among senior government officials, who avoid visiting Khamenei due to concerns about potential Israeli tracking and assassination threats. Consequently, the responsibility for decision-making has largely shifted to military generals rather than civilian authorities.

In this atmosphere of heightened security, communication with Khamenei is a meticulous process. Messages are carefully handwritten, sealed, and passed through a trusted network of couriers. These couriers, traveling discreetly by car or motorcycle along highways and back roads, ensure the secure delivery of correspondence to his undisclosed location. His responses are then conveyed back through the same intricate web of couriers.