President Trump has speculated on the status of Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suggesting that he is “likely alive” but may have sustained injuries during the recent Operation Epic Fury.
“I believe he is probably alive. He’s likely hurt, but in some capacity, he is still alive,” Trump remarked during an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade.
Since taking on the role of supreme leader earlier this week after the passing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei has neither made public appearances nor have any new images of him been released by the Iranian government.
Some reports, drawing from Iranian sources, indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in the February 28 airstrike, which also resulted in the death of his father and his wife.
According to one source, as reported by The Sun, Khamenei is in a coma, possibly having lost both legs and suffering severe internal injuries.
In contrast, another source claims that the cleric sustained only minor wounds, which include a fractured foot, a bruised eye, and cuts on his face during the initial airstrike assault.
Khamenei, 56, vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz and avenge the death of his father, as well as âevery member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy,â in his first statement as supreme leader.
The lengthy message was read out on Iranian state TV by an anchor Thursday as an image of Khamenei was displayed on screen.
âWell, they’ve been doing a lot of talking, so he’s going to have to put up,â Trump said of the new leaderâs message during his appearance on âThe Brian Kilmeade Show.â
âWe’ll have to see because we are decimating them,â the president continued. âWe’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.
âWe’re hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II.â
Trumpâs full interview on the program will air Friday at 10 a.m.
