President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive despite sustaining injuries, following the death of his father in the current U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Speaking during a Fox News interview on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Trump stated his assessment of the Iranian leader’s condition. “I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” the President remarked. Fox News released these comments late Thursday evening.
The younger Khamenei assumed the supreme leadership position after Iranian clerical authorities selected him on Sunday, following his father’s death on the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. Since taking power, the new leader has remained out of public view, with Iranian citizens unable to see him directly.
On Thursday, Iranian state television broadcast the new supreme leader’s initial public statements, which were delivered by a news anchor rather than spoken by Khamenei himself. A Reuters source within the Iranian government confirmed Wednesday that the recently appointed leader sustained minor injuries but continues his official duties, corroborating earlier state media reports describing him as wounded in combat.
In his first official communication, Khamenei issued aggressive threats, promising to maintain the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. He also demanded that regional nations expel American military installations from their territories, warning that Iran would consider them legitimate targets otherwise.
The military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran commenced on February 28. Iran has retaliated against both Israeli targets and Gulf nations hosting U.S. military facilities.
As the conflict nears its two-week anniversary, the violence has claimed thousands of lives and created significant instability in global financial markets. Leadership from Iran, Israel, and the United States have all maintained defiant positions and pledged to continue military operations.
