Indeed, the book is so deep and wise that evidence that it was written by one of the forty-eight prophets would make more sense than attributing it to one of the Tanna’im. Moreover, if I became convinced that Moses himself received [the Zohar] on Mount Sinai from God Himself, I would be satisfied. This book is worthy of that. Once I was able to prepare this accessible commentary, enabling people to understand what the Zohar says, I no longer feel any obligation to investigate the [identify of the] author. No one who understands the Zohar could doubt that its author is anyone less than the great Tanna, the holy Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai.
Who Really Wrote the Zohar and Why It Matters
Baal HaSulam's Introduction to Zohar 60:2