Trump Says Iran’s New Supreme Leader Is ‘Damaged’ but Alive

President Donald Trump said he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive but “damaged,” amid ongoing conflict in the region.

Khamenei, who succeeded his father—the former supreme leader killed on the first day of US and Israeli attacks on Iran—has not appeared publicly since his selection by a clerical assembly on Sunday. His first statements were delivered through a television presenter on Thursday.

“I think he probably is alive. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump told Fox News’ *The Brian Kilmeade Show*. The network published the remarks late Thursday.

In his initial comments, Khamenei threatened to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and called on neighboring countries to remove US military bases or face Iranian action.

The conflict began February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran. Iran has responded with strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US bases.

The war has now lasted nearly two weeks, resulting in thousands of deaths and significant market disruption. Leaders from Iran, Israel, and the United States have all signaled their intent to continue fighting.