New Iranian Supreme Leader Reported Injured Amid Ongoing U.S.-Israel Military Campaign

President Donald Trump stated that he believes Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive but has sustained injuries, describing him as "damaged" during a Fox News interview on "The Brian Kilmeade Show." Khamenei assumed leadership after his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed on the opening day of a joint U.S.-Israeli military offensive against Iran that began on February 28.

Trump told host Brian Kilmeade that while he believes the new leader is likely alive, he appears to be in a compromised condition. "I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form, you know," Trump said. His comments came after an Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the newly appointed supreme leader sustained light injuries but remains operational. Iranian state television had previously referred to him as war-wounded.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not made any public appearances since being selected by a clerical assembly on Sunday. His first public statement was not delivered personally — instead, a television presenter read it aloud on Thursday. In the statement, the new supreme leader pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighboring nations to shut down U.S. military bases on their soil, warning that Iran would consider those countries targets if they refused.

As the conflict nears the two-week mark, the war has already claimed thousands of lives and rattled global financial markets. Iran has retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military installations. Despite the mounting casualties and economic disruption, leaders from Iran, Israel, and the United States have each signaled their intention to continue fighting, with no signs of a ceasefire or diplomatic resolution on the horizon.