By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said that he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed on the
Trump: Iran's New Supreme Leader Reportedly Alive but 'Damaged' as War Escalates
Escalation of Conflict and Leadership Uncertainty in Iran
By Kanishka Singh
Background on Iran's Supreme Leadership Transition
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said that he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed on the first day of the U.S. and Israel's war on Iran, is alive but "damaged."
Absence and Public Statements of Mojtaba Khamenei
Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly, and his first comments were read out by a television presenter on Thursday.
Official Reports on Khamenei's Condition
An Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that the newly appointed supreme leader was lightly injured but was continuing to operate, after state television described him as war-wounded.
Trump's Remarks and International Response
"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 in an interview on Fox News' "The Brian Kilmeade Show." His remarks were published by Fox News late on Thursday.
Khamenei's First Comments as Supreme Leader
In Khamenei's first comments, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and called on neighboring countries to close U.S. bases on their territory or risk Iran targeting them.
Ongoing War and Regional Impact
The U.S. and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf countries with U.S. bases.
As the war approached the two-week mark, having killed thousands and shaken financial markets, the leaders of Iran, Israel and the United States all voiced defiance and have vowed to fight on.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
