In a carefully timed move following Iran's retaliatory strike on a US base in Qatar, the Pentagon on Monday released the first images of the formidable B-2 bombers used in the historic attack on Iran's nuclear facility in Fordo on Saturday night.
Video: Pentagon released first images of B-2 bombers /// Pentagon
Meanwhile, CNN reported that Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, has maintained contact with Iranian officials since the weekend's US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The report cited two sources familiar with the matter, noting that the US administration continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
These efforts, however, face serious obstacles due to the inaccessibility of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the sources, Khamenei, 86, retreated to a secure location amid the escalating crisis, making it difficult even for Iranian intermediaries to reach him.
US officials believe that Khamenei must approve any major diplomatic move, but the current difficulty in reaching him is hampering communication between Washington and Tehran. Officials said that both direct and indirect messages are being exchanged, but the flow of communication remains fragmented.
Khamenei has not released any recorded statement since the US strikes, and American officials suspect he is in hiding to avoid the risk of assassination during the ongoing standoff. Still, Trump has expressed hope that Iran will return to the negotiating table, a process that had largely stalled before Israel launched its own strikes earlier this month.
According to the officials, the US had sent a message to Tehran ahead of the weekend's operation indicating that the action would be limited and that Trump still hoped for a peaceful resolution.
