President flags uncertainty as Iran, U.S., and Israel clash in growing Middle East crisis.
President Donald Trump said he believes Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive but “damaged” following the assassination of his father at the start of the U.S. and Israel war on Iran. Speaking on Fox News’ The Brian Kilmeade Show, Trump added: “I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know, but damaged.”
Khamenei, appointed by Iran’s clerical assembly on Sunday, has not appeared publicly since his selection. His first message, read on state TV, warned of closing the Strait of Hormuz and urged neighboring countries to expel U.S. bases or risk Iranian retaliation.
The conflict, now nearly two weeks old, has killed thousands, rocked financial markets, and drawn fierce defiance from leaders in Iran, Israel, and the U.S., all pledging to continue fighting.
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