
US President Donald Trump said he believes Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive, despite recent speculation about his death.
In an interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, Trump said Khamenei is "very badly wounded," referring to injuries to the left side of his body.
"I don't think he's dead. He's very badly injured. The left side of his body, his arm, his leg, everything," Trump declared.
The American president said that he also bases his assessment on the behavior of Iranian negotiators, who, according to him, continue to talk about getting Khamenei's approval on important issues.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was elected to the post of Iran's supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts on March 8, days after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the joint US-Israeli attacks on February 28.
Since his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public and there have been no verified photographs, videos or audio recordings of him. He was also absent from his father's funeral ceremonies in July.
His public absence has fueled speculation about his health and fate. The Atlantic magazine, citing sources close to the Iranian government, reported this week that there have been numerous discussions in Tehran about the fate of the Iranian leader.
A former Iranian official and relative of the Khamenei family, Mohammad Hossein Khoshvaght, said fewer than five people have met him since March, due to strict security measures.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier stated that communication with Khamenei had become "extremely difficult."
Earlier reports in the US media, citing unidentified Iranian officials, claimed that Mojtaba Khamenei had been seriously injured in the attacks and had undergone several surgeries on his legs and arms. According to these reports, he had difficulty speaking due to severe burns on his face and lips. Tehran has not confirmed this information.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had earlier said that Khamenei had been wounded and likely "disfigured".
Trump: Strait of Hormuz is practically open
In the same interview, Trump also spoke about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the sea passage is now practically open.
"We are passing a lot of ships through the strait now," he said, adding that naval mines had been cleared.
However, commercial traffic in the strait remains restricted by Iranian authorities, while Iranian forces have continued to stop ships attempting to pass through routes unauthorized by Tehran.
Trump also declared that military and economic pressure on Iran was yielding results and that American measures were leading to a "very big victory."