Trump Says Iran’s New Supreme Leader Alive but ‘Damaged’
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
United States President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive but may have been seriously affected amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Trump made the remark during an interview on a Fox News programme hosted by Brian Kilmeade, where he said he thinks Khamenei is likely alive but “damaged” following recent developments surrounding the war.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was reportedly selected by a clerical assembly to lead the country after his father was killed on the first day of military strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Since his selection, the new Iranian leader has not been seen publicly. His first remarks were instead delivered through a message read by a television presenter on state television.
In the statement, Khamenei reportedly pledged to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed and warned neighbouring countries hosting American military bases that Iran could target them if those bases remain active.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran. Tehran has since responded with retaliatory attacks aimed at Israel and at locations in Gulf countries where U.S. military facilities are located.
As the war approaches the two-week mark, the violence has reportedly resulted in thousands of casualties and triggered volatility in global financial markets.
Despite the rising humanitarian and economic toll, leaders in Iran, Israel and the United States have continued to express determination to sustain their military campaigns, raising fears that the confrontation could further escalate across the region.
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