President Trump expressed his belief that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “probably alive” but might have sustained injuries in what was termed “Operation Epic Fury.”
“I think he probably is. I think he’s hurt, but I think he’s probably still alive in some way,” Trump remarked during a conversation with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade.
Khamenei has not made any public appearances since taking over after his father, Ali Khamenei, passed away earlier this week, and there have been no new images released by the Iranian government.
Reports citing Iranian sources indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in a February 28 airstrike that also claimed the lives of his father and wife.
Some reports suggest he is in a coma and may have lost both legs with significant internal injuries, while another source stated his injuries were minor, including a broken leg, some bruising, and facial lacerations.
In his inaugural statement as the supreme leader, Khamenei, at 56 years old, pledged to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and seek revenge for the death of his father and others “martyred by the enemy.”
This message was broadcasted on Iranian state television, accompanied by images of Khamenei.
Trump commented on Khamenei’s vow during his appearance on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” mentioning that “they’re talking a lot, so he’s going to have to be patient.”
“We’re hitting them harder than anyone since World War II,” Trump added, discussing actions taken against Iran. “We destroyed most of their missiles. We destroyed many of their drones. We destroyed much of the manufacturing area where they made missiles and are now making drones.”
