U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he believes Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, is alive, even though no verified video or audio of him has been released since he assumed leadership following his father’s death in U.S. and Israeli strikes last February.
In an interview with radio host Glenn Beck on Wednesday, August 26, Trump commented on Mojtaba Khamenei’s status: “I don’t think he’s dead. He was badly injured, his left side, arm, leg, everything. He was severely wounded, but I don’t think he’s dead.”
The U.S. President added that if Mojtaba Khamenei had been killed, officials of the Islamic Republic have managed to conceal it remarkably well, noting that during negotiations they repeatedly state that they must check back with him for consultations.
Since Mojtaba Khamenei was named the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, conflicting reports have emerged regarding his physical condition and level of activity. A significant portion of these reports indicates that he was severely injured during the February 28 strikes that resulted in the death of Ali Khamenei.
In another part of the interview, Trump discussed the protests in Iran: “I don’t think you stand there when there’s a machine gun in front of you; snipers are literally positioned on top of the buildings.”
