President Donald Trump said he believes Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s recently appointed supreme leader, is probably still alive but "damaged." The comment came in an interview on Fox News' "The Brian Kilmeade Show," and was published by Fox News late on Thursday.
In the interview, Trump said: "I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know."
Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians since a clerical assembly selected him on Sunday. His initial remarks following that selection were read aloud by a television presenter on Thursday, rather than delivered in person.
An Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that the newly appointed supreme leader had suffered light injuries but was continuing to operate, after state television described him as war-wounded. The official attribution and state descriptions have left Khamenei’s precise condition and public absence unclear to outside observers.
In his first publicly conveyed comments, Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighboring countries to shut U.S. military bases on their soil or face the risk of Iran targeting them. Those statements underscore the heightened regional tensions tied to the ongoing conflict.
The United States and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has carried out its own strikes in response, targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries that host U.S. military bases. As the confrontation approached the two-week mark, the conflict had already resulted in thousands of deaths and disrupted financial markets.
Leaders of the principal parties - Iran, Israel and the United States - have all issued defiant statements and signaled intentions to continue fighting. The combination of reported leadership injuries, reciprocal military actions and open threats against regional infrastructure has sustained uncertainty for markets and governments alike.
Context and implications
The public confusion over the supreme leader's physical condition - in part because his first comments were relayed rather than delivered directly - comes amid active hostilities between Iran and forces from the United States and Israel. The competing reports from state media and government sources, and the absence of public appearances, contribute to uncertainty about Iran's leadership posture as the conflict continues.
All parties involved continue to publicly assert they will press on, while the human toll and market disruption mount.