US intelligence agencies believe Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is playing a role in directing Tehran’s wartime strategy and negotiations with Washington despite remaining largely out of public view after reportedly suffering injuries during the conflict, according to a CNN report, The Caspian Post informs.

The report, citing sources familiar with US intelligence assessments, said uncertainty persists over the extent of Khamenei’s authority within Iran’s leadership structure following attacks during the war that killed several senior Iranian officials, including his father.

US officials reportedly assess that Khamenei has continued communicating through trusted couriers and face-to-face contacts while recovering from injuries said to include burns and shrapnel wounds.

Iranian officials, however, said the supreme leader is recovering well. Mazaher Hosseini stated Friday that Khamenei’s condition has improved and rejected speculation regarding his health.

The report also said US intelligence assessments concluded that Iran’s military capabilities were weakened, but not destroyed, by American strikes, with a significant number of missile launchers still remaining operational.

It added that senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are believed to be managing much of the government’s day-to-day affairs as diplomatic contacts with the Trump administration continue.