New questions are emerging about the status and whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, after reports indicated that communications between him and senior regime officials have been disrupted for more than a day, raising the possibility that Iran’s latest missile attack on Israel was carried out without direct authorization from the country’s leadership.

According to a report by Iran International, contact between Khamenei and top Iranian officials has been unreliable since Sunday night, just hours before Iran launched its most recent missile barrage against Israel.

A source familiar with the situation told the outlet that the attack appears to have been executed under pre-established military contingency plans rather than as the result of real-time coordination with Khamenei’s office.

The report suggests that Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard commanders may have relied on standing operational procedures that allow for an immediate response in the event that communication with the country’s leadership is severed.

The source further noted that the Revolutionary Guards’ reaction to the Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahieh district came so quickly that it is unlikely a formal exchange of messages took place beforehand with Khamenei or members of his inner circle.

If accurate, the development could indicate that senior military officials activated an almost automatic response mechanism designed to ensure a rapid strike against Israel even during a breakdown in communications at the highest levels of the Iranian regime.

The report adds to growing uncertainty surrounding Khamenei’s condition and role since the outbreak of the war. Iran International previously reported that the first message attributed to him during the conflict was not delivered in his own voice or through a recorded appearance. Instead, the statement was read on state television alongside a still photograph, while Iranian authorities provided no direct evidence regarding his status or whereabouts.

{Matzav.com}