U.S. President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is likely still alive but may have been injured amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News’ The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump said he believed Khamenei had survived but might not be in full condition. “I think he probably is alive. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said in remarks published Thursday.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being selected as Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday by a clerical assembly, following the reported killing of his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, on the first day of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran.
His first public message was delivered through a television presenter on Thursday, in which he vowed that Iran would keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed. He also warned neighboring countries to shut down U.S. military bases on their territory or risk becoming targets of Iranian attacks.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets. Iran has since retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities.
As the war approaches its second week, thousands of people have reportedly been killed, while global financial and energy markets continue to react to the escalating tensions.
Despite the rising casualties and economic concerns, leaders in Iran, Israel and the United States have maintained defiant positions and signaled their readiness to continue the conflict.
