“I have heard Mojtaba Khamenei is probably not alive,” says Trump

2026-03-15 - 07:44

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has questioned whether Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive or not fuelling fresh speculations about the fate of the Iranian leader. “Don’t know Mojtaba Khamenei, is alive or not, I have heard he is probably not alive”, Donald Trump said. “There are speculations about his death”. US President Donald Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is likely alive “in some form,” despite reports he was severely injured in recent US-Israeli strikes. President Donald Trump says Iran wants to make a deal to end the war, but he doesn’t want to yet “because the terms are not good enough” In interview with NBC, Trump adds the US has “totally demolished” Kharg Island – Iran’s critical oil export hub – but that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun” Trump on Saturday said countries that rely on oil carried through the Hormuz strait should take responsibility for keeping the passage open, with American help. Global oil prices have surged by 40 percent as Iran has choked off the vital sea passage and attacked Gulf energy facilities since US-Israeli strikes launched the war on Iran. “The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” Trump said on social media. “The US will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be.” Trump, who has said the United States will soon start escorting tankers through the strait, added that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain would send ships to secure the passage. Iranian strikes have all but halted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally pass. It is just 54 kilometers (34 miles) wide at its narrowest point.