US President Donald Trump said Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is likely alive “in some form,” despite reports he was severely injured in recent US-Israeli strikes.
Speaking on the ‘Brian Kilmeade Show’ on Fox News Radio, Trump said Khamenei, 56, “is probably damaged, but… probably alive in some form.”
The remarks came after media reports claimed the cleric lost a leg and suffered serious stomach or liver injuries during an attack on a Tehran compound on February 28 that killed his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several family members.
The US president’s comments followed Khamenei’s first public statement since taking office, in which he vowed Iran would continue its war against the United States and Israel.
Khamenei also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, urged attacks on Gulf Arab countries, and called on people in the region to oppose US military bases, calling American protection “nothing more than a lie.”
Amid the ongoing uncertainty about his health, Iranian Ambassador Alireza Salarian had earlier confirmed Khamenei sustained injuries to his legs, hands, and arm and was receiving treatment in hospital. The Supreme Leader has not been seen publicly since the start of the war, and his recent statement was issued without appearing on TV or in a video.
Source: NDTV