Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said there was “no problem” with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, days after US President Donald Trump suggested he had been “damaged” during recent strikes.
The 56-year-old leader has not appeared in public since an airstrike that killed his father and former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other family members.
Iranian officials have earlier confirmed that the new leader was injured in the attack but have not provided further details.
“There is no problem with the new supreme leader. He sent his message yesterday, and he will perform his duties,” Araghchi told a news channel.
Trump Claims Mojtaba ‘Alive But Damaged’
Trump had said on Thursday that he believed Mojtaba Khamenei was still alive but had been injured in the strikes.
“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” he told Fox News.
A day later, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he believed Khamenei had been wounded and possibly disfigured.
“We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” he said at a press conference.
Mojtaba Khamenei Vows Revenge In First Statement
In his first public message since assuming leadership, Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to avenge the deaths caused by the war involving the United States and Israel.
“A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities,” Khamenei said in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV.
“We will seek compensation from the enemy, and if they refuse, we will take as much of their property as we determine, and if that is not possible, we will destroy the same amount of his property,” he added.
Khamenei also reiterated that Iran would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned neighbouring countries hosting US bases that they could face attacks if those facilities remained operational.
The United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on February 28 that killed 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran later responded with strikes targeting Israel and Gulf nations hosting American military bases.
