Washington: Amid widespread speculation and months of uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, US President Donald Trump has stated that he believes the Iranian leader is alive but “very seriously wounded.” Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of the ongoing war between the United States and Iran, during which Khamenei has been largely absent from public view.
Speaking in an interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Trump addressed the mounting rumours of Khamenei’s death. “I don’t think he’s dead. He was very seriously wounded,” the US President said, noting that the Iranian leader had sustained severe injuries to the left side of his body, specifically his arm and leg.
Criticising the Iranian leadership, Trump added, “It’s not the most honourable group, I will tell you that… We’re going to have a big victory here very soon.” He also cast doubt on the credibility of Iranian officials, accusing them of falsely portraying that they are actively consulting the Supreme Leader and seeking his approval for strategic decisions.
Previously, unverified reports suggested that Khamenei had been secretly flown to Moscow for surgery following initial US strikes. While Russia later indicated that Khamenei was in Iran, his prolonged absence has kept the rumour mills churning regarding his actual capacity to lead the country during the conflict.
In a separate development highlighting the military aspect of the war, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to assert US dominance in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He claimed that the US Navy had successfully removed or deactivated all marine mines placed in the international waters of the strait. Issuing a stern warning to Tehran, Trump declared that any new Iranian vessels attempting to lay mines in the region would be “promptly and systematically destroyed.”
Furthermore, the US President underscored the role of the US Space Force in the conflict, asserting that the agency is closely monitoring “every inch” of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, American forces are also maintaining constant surveillance on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain and three other previously dismantled nuclear sites, reinforcing the administration’s hardline military posture.