US President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s supreme leader remains alive despite not appearing in public since his father was killed in February. Trump said the Iranian leader suffered severe injuries during the conflict but rejected reports that he had died. His comments came during an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Wednesday.
“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,” Trump said.
Iran continues to officially recognise the supreme leader as being in charge amid the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign. However, his absence from public view and the growing influence of senior Revolutionary Guards figures have fuelled speculation over his condition and ability to lead.
Trump Addresses Iran Supreme Leader’s Disappearance
The Iran supreme leader has remained largely out of public view since his father was killed in a bombing at the beginning of the US-Israeli assault. Trump said he believed the leader was seriously wounded but had survived. His remarks come as uncertainty continues over the leadership of Iran.
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The absence has coincided with an increased role for veteran figures within Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Despite the speculation, the Iranian leadership structure continues to officially recognise the supreme leader as being in charge.
Trump also maintained that US military and economic pressure on Iran was producing the desired results. He said Washington was moving towards what he described as a significant victory.
“Those things are going toward a very big victory,” he said. “We’re going to have a big victory here very soon.”
Trump Claims Strait Of Hormuz Is Fully Open
The Strait of Hormuz remains another major point of contention between Washington and Tehran, with Iran’s military having disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway. Trump nevertheless insisted during the interview that the passage was fully open.
“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,” he said.
Trump has previously declared victory over Iran, while the strategic waterway remains a major focus of the conflict. Efforts to secure unrestricted shipping through the strait have continued amid wider tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Trump Says Iran Nuclear Weapons Remain Key Concern
Trump again identified Iran’s nuclear programme as the central issue behind the US campaign against Tehran. The Iran nuclear programme remains a major point of dispute, with Trump saying Washington could not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s what it’s all about. That’s 99.9 percent. We cannot let them because they are crazy and they will use it,” he said.
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Trump also claimed that he had already prevented Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities on two previous occasions. “I stopped it twice,” he added.
The US president said military and economic pressure would continue as Washington seeks what he described as a major victory over Iran.
