Trump believes Iran’s supreme leader ‘very seriously wounded’ but likely still alive

On August 27, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's supreme leader, who has been absent from public view since assuming power following his father's assassination in February, is still alive but severely injured. In an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck, Trump stated, "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."

Officially, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei continues to lead his country despite the ongoing US and Israeli attacks. However, his prolonged absence and the emergence of veteran Revolutionary Guards figures have raised doubts about his current state and ability to govern effectively. The absence of his father, who was killed in a bombing at the outset of the US-Israeli assault, has further fueled speculation about his potential demise or loss of command.

Despite his claims, Trump has yet to achieve his desired outcomes, including the opening of the Hormuz sea route and the surrender of Iran's nuclear materials. He reiterated that military and economic pressure is leading towards a significant victory, saying, "Those things are going toward a very big victory. We’re going to have a big victory here very soon."

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has disrupted shipping to a considerable extent, Trump insisted that the passage is fully open. He stated, "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," adding, "We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s what it’s all about. That’s 99.9 per cent. We cannot let them because they are crazy and they will use it," before emphasizing that he had already "stopped it twice."