According to a report in the New York Times, the US foreign intelligence agency CIA played an important role before the attack on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
March 1, 2026, 10:10March 1, 2026, 10:10
The US newspaper “New York Times” Citing several unnamed people who are said to be familiar with the operation, reported that the foreign intelligence service had been tracking Khamenei for months and had gained knowledge of his whereabouts and habits.
The destroyed residence of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Image: airbus via new york times
The CIA is said to have learned that a meeting of high-ranking Iranian officials was to take place on Saturday morning in a complex of buildings in the heart of Tehran and that Khamenei would be there. As a result, the USA and Israel are said to have adjusted the timing of their attacks on Iran. According to the newspaper report, the original plan was to attack at night.
Iran’s state media confirmed on Sunday night that Khamenei had been killed. US President Donald Trump had previously announced this. (hkl/sda/dpa)