US President Donald Trump said he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive but may have been wounded, according to remarks aired by Fox News.
“I think he probably is. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said in an interview scheduled to air Friday.
His comments came shortly after Khamenei delivered his first public address since assuming the position of supreme leader, signaling that Iran would continue fighting in the conflict with the United States and Israel.
Khamenei took power following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of US-Israeli strikes earlier in the escalation.
Despite the televised statement attributed to him, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the conflict intensified, fueling speculation about his health and whereabouts.
Trump also addressed concerns about maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route that has faced disruptions amid the fighting.
He suggested ships should continue using the strategic waterway despite tensions.
“Go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts,” Trump said, according to Fox News.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. They have no navy and we sunk all their ships,” he added, referring to Iran’s naval forces.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil shipments, and any disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway can have immediate effects on energy markets worldwide.