Witkoff in contact with Iranian officials, problem is that Khamenei is at a secret location making communication difficult

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump's envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has remained in contact with Iranian officials since the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, said two sources familiar with the situation, as the administration continues to seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

However, his efforts face a significant challenge from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has become extremely difficult for Iranian officials to contact after he withdrew to a hidden location amid escalating tensions, the sources said.

There is an understanding among US officials that the 86-year-old Khamenei will have to approve any important diplomatic decisions. But getting information to and from him has become more difficult.

This has somewhat hampered communication between the US and Iranians - either directly or through intermediaries, officials said.

Khamenei has not conveyed any recorded messages since the US strikes. US officials believe he is hiding amid the ongoing conflict to avoid assassination.

Nevertheless, Trump said he hopes Iran will return to negotiations after the weekend strikes, which were largely at a standstill before Israel launched its attacks this month.

The US and Iran have maintained communication through secret channels during the current crisis. Before the weekend strikes, the US conveyed a message that actions would be restrained and that Trump still seeks to resolve the matter diplomatically, officials said.

No US soldiers were killed or injured in the attack on one of the US bases in Qatar, two US officials told Reuters. The Pentagon, however, confirmed, as reported by the BBC, that the Al Udeid base was attacked with medium-range ballistic missiles.

A US official said no missile hit the base.

According to a US military official, no Iranian attack on any US base other than the one in Qatar was recorded. Iran's state news agency IRNA earlier reported that Iran attacked US military bases in Qatar and Iraq on Monday evening in response to the bombing of its nuclear facilities.