The Aporia · Trump says he believes Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei still alive

US President Donald Trump stated in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck on Wednesday (August 26) that he believes Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive despite not being seen in public since February. Trump claims Khamenei was "very seriously wounded" but does not think he's dead. This assertion comes as there has been speculation about Khamenei's health and leadership status due to his absence from public view and the rise of veteran Revolutionary Guards figures.

Written by AI on 2026-08-27, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

US President Donald Trump said he believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, despite having been out of public sight since his appointment as leader following his father's death in February 2026. Trump claimed that Khamenei was "very seriously wounded" in the bombing that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, and has not appeared publicly since his appointment on March 8th. However, there have been reports suggesting that Khamenei may be dead or incapacitated, leading to speculation about who is really in charge of Iran. Trump's comments come as the US and Israel continue their military and economic pressure campaign against Iran, which has failed so far to achieve its goals of opening the Strait of Hormuz and forcing Iran to surrender its nuclear materials.

Written for “Iranian Leader Health Report” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

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World · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads leans right and hedges 6% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Trump says Mojtaba Khamenei alive but 'very seriously wounded' in February strikes Same event

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AFP

874 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Wire or desk byline, not an individual reporter.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 26, 2026) said he believes Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since taking over after his father's killing in February, remains alive. asserted

who → say → February

"I don't think he's dead. asserted

he → think → ?

He was very seriously wounded. asserted

He → wound → ?

He was very seriously wounded. asserted

He → wound → ?

But I don't think he's dead," Mr. Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck. asserted

Trump → think → Beck

Officially, Mr. Khamenei continues to lead his country under U.S. and Israeli attack. asserted

Khamenei → continue → attack

However, his public absence and the rise to power of veteran Revolutionary Guards figures has fuelled speculation that he is either dead or not fully in command. asserted

he → fuel → command

His father was killed in bombing at the start of the U.S.-Israeli assault. asserted

father → kill → assault

Mr. Trump — who has already declared victory over Iran on multiple occasions but remains unable to force the opening of the Hormuz sea route or force Iran to surrender its nuclear materials — said again that military and economic pressure was working. asserted

pressure → declare → materials

"Those things are going toward a very big victory," he said. asserted

he → go → victory

"We're going to have a big victory here very soon." asserted

We → go → victory

Mr. Trump also insisted that the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran's military has disrupted and to a large extent blocked shipping, is in fact fully open. asserted

military → insist → fact

"You could really say, you know, because the Strait is open. uncertain

Strait → say → ?

We take a lot of ships through the Strait now. asserted

We → take → Strait

We're taking them in. asserted

We → take → them

The mines are gone," he said. asserted

he → go → ?

"We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. asserted

Iran → let → weapon

We cannot let them because they are crazy and they will use it," he said, before adding that he had already "stopped it twice." asserted

he → let → it

Trump says he believes Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei still alive

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