Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Know Whether Iran’s New Supreme Leader Is Alive

President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. officials are still unsure whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive following last month’s strike that killed his father.

Speaking to reporters in the White House East Room, Trump said there has been no confirmed public appearance by the younger Khamenei since he was named to lead the Islamic Republic.

“A lot of people are saying that he’s badly disfigured,” Trump said.

“They’re saying that he lost his leg, one leg, and he’s been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he’s dead.”

Trump noted that the absence of any public appearance has raised questions about Khamenei’s condition.

“We haven’t seen him at all,” Trump said.

He added that even American intelligence officials remain uncertain.

“We don’t know if he’s dead or not. Nobody’s seen him, which is unusual,” the president said.

Khamenei was named supreme leader in early March following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The elder Khamenei was killed during a joint U.S.-Israeli strike carried out during Operation Epic Fury.

While Mojtaba Khamenei released a statement shortly after his appointment, it was read by a news anchor on Iranian state television.

Since then, there have been no confirmed sightings of the new Iranian leader.

Reports suggest Khamenei may have survived the strike because he stepped outside the family compound shortly before the missiles struck.

According to the report, Israeli Blue Sparrow ballistic missiles hit the compound while he was away from the building.

The strike killed his father along with several senior Iranian officials and members of the family.

U.S. officials have said they believe Khamenei was injured in the attack.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the Iranian leader is believed to be wounded and possibly disfigured.

Iranian authorities have provided no official information about Khamenei’s condition.

Additional reporting suggests that several of his relatives were killed during the strike.

His wife and son were reportedly killed instantly, and another family member was also among those killed.

Little is publicly known about Mojtaba Khamenei, one of six children of the late ayatollah.

Trump has previously criticized Iran’s choice of successor, calling Khamenei a “lightweight” and saying the decision was a “mistake.”

The president reiterated that he is dissatisfied with the new leadership in Tehran as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.