Trump says Iran’s new supreme leader is likely alive but injured.

President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive but may have been injured.

Khamenei, whose father and former supreme leader was killed on the first day of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, has not appeared publicly since he was chosen by a clerical assembly on Sunday. His first remarks were delivered by a television presenter on Thursday.

In an interview on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Trump said he believes Khamenei is likely alive but may have been harmed.
“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form,” Trump said during the interview, which was published late Thursday.

In his first remarks since assuming the role, Khamenei pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighbouring countries to shut down US military bases on their territory or risk being targeted by Iran.

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to respond with strikes on Israel and Gulf nations hosting US bases.

As the conflict nears the two-week mark, it has resulted in thousands of deaths and rattled global financial markets, while the leaders of Iran, Israel and the United States have all signalled their determination to continue the fight.