Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s newly selected supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive but may be seriously affected following recent developments linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ali Khamenei, was chosen as the country’s new supreme leader after his father was killed on the first day of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
However, since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly before Iranians. His first remarks since taking the role were instead read by a television presenter on Thursday.
Speaking during an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump suggested the new leader might still be alive but not fully in good condition.
“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” Trump said.
The comments were later published by Fox News late on Thursday.
In his first statement since assuming leadership, Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly pledged to maintain the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. He also called on neighbouring countries hosting American military facilities to shut down those bases, warning that failure to do so could lead to Iran targeting them.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, escalating tensions across the region.
Iran has since responded with its own attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states that host American military bases.
As the war approaches the two-week mark, the fighting has already resulted in thousands of casualties and has caused turbulence in global financial markets.
Despite the rising toll and growing international concern, leaders in Iran, Israel, and the United States have continued to express defiance, each side indicating that it intends to continue the confrontation.
What you should know
The death of Ali Khamenei and the rapid selection of his son Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader mark one of the most dramatic leadership changes in the country’s modern history.
The development comes amid an active war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, a conflict that has raised fears of wider regional escalation and potential disruption to global energy supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
