Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father and former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed on the first day of the conflict, has not appeared publicly since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly
United States President Donald Trump has said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is likely alive but “damaged” following the US and Israel attacks on Iran.
Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father and former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed on the first day of the conflict, has not appeared publicly since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly.
His first message since the appointment was read aloud on television on Thursday.
“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said in an interview on The Brian Kilmeade Show, which was published by Fox News late Thursday.
In his first comments, Khamenei vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned neighbouring countries to remove US military bases from their territory or risk being targeted by Iran.
The United States and Israel began their attacks on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israel and Gulf countries hosting US bases.
As the conflict nears its second week, which has already killed thousands and shaken global markets, the leaders of Iran, Israel, and the United States have all expressed defiance and pledged to continue fighting.
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