US President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is still alive despite not being seen publicly since his father was killed in a bombing at the start of the US-Israeli assault in February.
Trump made the comment in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck, saying Khamenei was seriously wounded but had not died.
“I don’t think he’s dead. 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 said.
Khamenei’s absence fuels speculation
Khamenei officially remains Iran’s leader under the ongoing US and Israeli attacks. However, his prolonged absence from public view and the growing prominence of veteran Revolutionary Guards figures have fueled speculation over whether he is dead or no longer fully in control.
His father was killed in a bombing at the beginning of the US-Israeli assault.
Trump, who has repeatedly declared victory over Iran, said military and economic pressure was continuing to produce results.
He said the pressure was moving the conflict towards what he described as a “very big victory”, adding that he expected a major outcome soon.
However, the US has yet to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or force Iran to surrender its nuclear materials.
Dispute over Strait of Hormuz
Trump also insisted that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz is fully open, despite reports that Iranian military activity has significantly disrupted shipping through the waterway.
“You could really say, you know, because the Strait is open. We take a lot of ships through the Strait now. We’re taking them in. The mines are gone,” he said.
The Strait is a crucial global shipping route and a key flashpoint in the confrontation between Iran and the United States and Israel.
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Trump maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the central objective of the US campaign.
“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s what it’s all about. That’s 99.9 percent,” he said, arguing that Iran could use such a weapon if it acquired one.
Trump also claimed he had “stopped it twice”, without providing further details.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.