Report: US advanced Iran strike after CIA pinpointed Khamenei’s location

1 March 2026, 11:04 am

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In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prays at the grave of the late Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Khomeini, commemorating the 47th anniversary of his return from exile during 1979 Islamic Revolution, just outside Tehran, Iran, January 31, 2026. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

The CIA identified the precise location of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shortly before the US and Israel launched their coordinated strike on Iran, providing what officials describe as “high fidelity” intelligence that shaped the operation, The New York Times reports, citing officials familiar with the matter.

According to the report, US intelligence had tracked Khamenei for months, refining its understanding of his movements and security patterns. The breakthrough came when the CIA learned that Khamenei would attend a morning meeting of senior Iranian officials at a leadership compound in central Tehran.

The intelligence was shared with Israel, and the two countries adjusted the timing of their planned strike — which was initially planned to take place under the cover of darkness — to exploit the opportunity, moving it to coincide with the gathering at 9:40 a.m. Tehran time.

The New York Times says that the White House and CIA declined to comment on the report.