World News Today: International News Headlines - The Hindu | The Hindu
· collected 2026-08-27 · by AFP
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 the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
US President Donald Trump claims Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, despite speculation that he may have died or be severely incapacitated after being injured in a February bombing that killed his father. Trump made these comments on August 26, stating that Khamenei was "very seriously wounded" with injuries to the left side of his body, including his arm and leg. However, Trump believes Khamenei is still alive, citing the behavior of Iranian negotiators who seem to be treating him as if he were still in charge. This comes after 28 days since Khamenei's appointment as leader on March 8, with no public appearances from him.
Written for “Iranian Leader's Health Status” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.55 for article 2763 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
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
