US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, August 26, that he “does not believe” the Iranian figure Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since late February, “is dead.”
“He was very seriously injured” in the attack that killed his father in February, sustaining wounds to the “left side of his body, arm and leg.” Trump made the remarks during a phone interview with conservative host Glenn Beck, which was streamed live on social media.
“But I do not believe he is dead,” the president continued, adding: “If he is, they are doing a good job of playing this act out.” He was referring to statements by Iranian officials who say they consulted the senior Iranian leader when making key decisions.
Reasons for speculation about his health
Since assuming his role in March, just days after his father’s death in late February, Mojtaba Khamenei has virtually disappeared from public view. His statements are read on television, and amid the regional conflict this has fueled speculation about both his health and his relationships with other high‑ranking Iranian officials.
In early August, the office of the senior Iranian leader announced that Khamenei had met with President Masoud Pezeshkian. At that time, a general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told journalists that photographs of Khamenei in public and during meetings with military commanders “will be published in the future,” without giving a specific date.
Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend his father’s funeral in July, which further intensified questions about his condition.
Source: BFMTV
