New Iranian Supreme Leader ‘Probably Alive,’ Trump Says
President Donald J. Trump indicated this week that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is likely still alive, though he suggested the cleric may have been wounded during the U.S. military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury.
Khamenei has not been seen publicly since assuming the position of supreme leader earlier this week following the death of his father, longtime Iranian ruler Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities have also refrained from releasing any recent photographs or video footage of the new leader.
During an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade, President Trump addressed the uncertainty surrounding Khamenei’s condition.
“I think he probably is. I think he’s damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said.
Multiple reports citing Iranian sources claim Mojtaba Khamenei was injured during the Feb. 28 airstrike that killed his father and his father’s wife. That strike occurred amid the escalating conflict between the United States and the Iranian regime.
Speculation about the extent of Khamenei’s injuries has varied widely. One report, citing a source speaking to a British tabloid, suggested the cleric could be in a coma and may have lost both legs while suffering severe internal trauma. Those claims, however, have not been independently verified.
Another source offered a less dramatic account, alleging the new Iranian leader sustained only minor injuries during the initial airstrikes, including a fractured foot, bruising around one eye, and several facial cuts.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his health, Mojtaba Khamenei has already issued his first public statement as supreme leader. In remarks broadcast on Iranian state television Thursday — delivered by a news anchor while Khamenei’s image appeared on screen — he vowed retaliation against the United States and its allies.
The message pledged to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and to avenge the deaths of his father and others killed during the conflict, promising revenge for “every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy.”
President Trump responded bluntly to the threats during his appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”
“Well, they’ve been doing a lot of talking, so he’s going to have to put up,” Trump said.
The president emphasized that U.S. forces have inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military capabilities during Operation Epic Fury.
“We’ll have to see because we are decimating them,” the president continued. “We’ve knocked out most of their missiles. We’ve knocked out many of their drones. We knocked out a lot of the manufacturing areas where they manufacture the missiles and now the drones.”
“We’re hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state television also delivered a separate statement declaring that the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes — will remain closed until the conflict ends.
The message additionally warned neighboring Gulf nations to remove American military installations from their territory. In recent days, Iran has launched attacks targeting several countries throughout the Middle East following the start of Operation Epic Fury.
Notably, Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear during the broadcast, fueling additional speculation about his condition.
Back in Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that the administration is evaluating potential measures to ensure U.S. energy supplies remain stable despite Iran’s threats to choke off global oil shipments.
According to Leavitt, officials are considering a temporary waiver of the Jones Act to allow additional shipping flexibility and maintain the flow of essential resources to American ports.
“In the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period of time to ensure vital energy products and agricultural necessities are flowing freely to U.S. ports. This action has not been finalized,” Leavitt said.
President Trump also addressed concerns about possible terrorist sleeper cells inside the United States, suggesting some individuals may have entered the country under the previous administration’s border policies.
“A lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border, but we know where most of them are: We’ve got our eye on all of them, I think,” Trump said.
“They came in through the open-border policies of Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the worst — the worst president in the history of our country — and we’ve got our eyes on all of them,” the president added.
Despite those concerns, Trump said the U.S. military campaign itself is being carried out with unprecedented strength and effectiveness.
“But the war itself is being prosecuted at a level that nobody has seen before,” Trump continued.