Iran's Acting Supreme Leader Modžtaba Chameneí Remains Hidden, US and Israel Turn to Human Spies

Since the February 28 U.S. strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Chameneí, his son Modžtaba Chameneí has stayed out of sight, refusing to use any electronic devices. He communicates only through written statements read on state television and radio. According to intelligence reports, the CIA and Israel's Mossad can no longer rely on satellite or cyber surveillance to locate him and must depend on human informants. The U.S. National Security Agency and Israel's Unit 8200 previously used cyber tools to track Ali Chameneí, but current information about Modžtaba comes from human sources. Some analysts suspect he may be dead, arguing that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is portraying him as alive to legitimize its confrontation with the United States. Iranian President Masoud Pezeškján has said he met the newly appointed leader, though no public media evidence has been released.