In a recent interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump raised questions about the status of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suggesting that he may no longer be alive. “I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender,” Trump stated. “I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody’s been able to show him,” the president added, fueling speculation about Khamenei’s whereabouts.
Trump also discussed the possibility of a ceasefire with Iran, noting that the Iranian government had reached out about the prospect. However, he made it clear that his terms for any agreement had not been met yet. “Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said, underscoring his stance on securing favorable conditions before entering negotiations.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assumed the position of Supreme Leader following his father’s death during a wave of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. Reports from Iranian state media confirmed Ali Khamenei’s death after the strikes targeted key Iranian military and governmental sites. President Trump confirmed the news on social media, labeling Khamenei as one of the “most evil people in History.”
Mojtaba Khamenei, now 56 years old, was reportedly injured during the same strikes that killed his father, with early reports suggesting he may have been gravely wounded. The New York Post later reported that Iran had used AI-generated images to alter Mojtaba’s appearance, likely due to his injuries. In response to these developments, the U.S. State Department has issued a $10 million reward for information regarding Mojtaba and other prominent Iranian figures. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his status, Trump has made it clear that he does not recognize Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership and continues to call for the dismantling of the Iranian regime.