US President Donald Trump has said he believes Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, survived the Israeli-American strikes that were previously reported to have killed him.
Trump made the comment on Wednesday during an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck, saying Khamenei was badly injured but that he did not believe the Iranian leader had died.
Trump said the injuries were severe, particularly on the left side of Khamenei’s body, including his arm and leg.
The remarks represent a significant shift from Trump’s earlier position after the attacks, when he declared Khamenei dead.
In February, Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that Khamenei, whom he described in strongly critical terms, had been killed after the US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced at the time that the Iranian leader was believed to have been killed, saying the compound where Khamenei was located had been destroyed.
The reported strikes triggered a retaliatory missile barrage from Iran, sending residents in several Middle Eastern cities seeking shelter.
Khamenei had not been seen publicly since his father was killed in February and he subsequently assumed Iran’s top leadership position, according to the information surrounding the development.
Trump’s latest statement has therefore added fresh uncertainty over the whereabouts and condition of Iran’s supreme leader.
The conflicting claims come against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States, with any confirmation regarding Khamenei’s condition potentially carrying major political and security implications for the region.