Trump: Mojtaba Khamenei Seriously Wounded, Not Dead
Trump added that if Khamenei is incapacitated or deceased, Tehran may be maintaining an elaborate deception
Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump has said he believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, though he suffered severe injuries during ongoing military operations, as questions continue over the Iranian leader's prolonged absence from public view.
Speaking in an interview with US commentator Glenn Beck, Trump addressed speculation over Khamenei's fate following months of limited public appearances.
"I don't think he's dead," Trump told Beck. "He was very seriously wounded. The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing. He was very seriously wounded, but I don't think he's dead."
Trump added that if Khamenei is incapacitated or deceased, Tehran may be maintaining an elaborate deception.
"If he is, they're putting on a pretty good show because they talk about, you know, going back to talk to him all the time... to get a final blessing on things," Trump said.
Shifting focus to ongoing military and strategic operations, Trump praised the performance of the US armed forces and the country's economic strength.
Highlighting recent maritime engagements, he said, "We took out 22 boats last night. We have people coming in, the blockade. Our Navy has been unbelievable. Our military has been unbelievable."
Trump also expressed confidence in the outcome of current military campaigns, saying, "Those things are going toward a very big victory. We had the victory in Venezuela, and we're going to have a big victory here."
On Tuesday, Al Arabiya reported that Iran's Fars News released archival footage of Khamenei. According to the report, the footage was filmed before he became Supreme Leader and showed him surrounded by a group of people offering prayers before discussions began.
The release marked the second time in August that Iranian media published a video involving Khamenei.
Earlier this month, days after Israeli media reported that Iran's Supreme Leader was in critical condition and had been taken to a hospital, Iran's semi-official Mehr News agency released an undated video showing Mojtaba Khamenei appearing to be in good health.
The video was published by Mehr as speculation mounted over Khamenei's health and whereabouts.
Previously, Israeli media reports had claimed that Khamenei was in an "extremely critical condition". Channel 14, citing sources inside Iran, and an earlier report by The Jerusalem Post, quoting IranWire and sources close to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, reported that concerns about his health were circulating within Iran's leadership.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian subsequently said that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "completely healthy", dismissing speculation about his physical condition, according to ISNA.
"Someone who can sit and discuss for seven to eight hours cannot have any health problems," Pezeshkian said, referring to a meeting he had held with Khamenei earlier in August.
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of Supreme Leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28. Since assuming the role, Mojtaba Khamenei has not made public appearances and has communicated primarily through written statements.
