US President Donald Trump claims that Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the leader of Iran, is alive but "very seriously wounded" from February's strikes that killed his father. According to Trump, Khamenei sustained injuries to his left arm and leg, which have made it difficult for him to speak or appear in public since March. This contradicts previous reports that suggested Khamenei had died or was severely injured. Trump based his assessment on the behavior of Iranian negotiators, who continue to discuss obtaining a "final blessing" from Khamenei on certain issues despite his absence.
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.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 2785 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-27
The US president told conservative commentator Glenn Beck that Khamenei sustained serious injuries to the left side of his body, including his arm and leg.
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Khamenei → tell → arm
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment in March and was absent from his father's funeral in July.
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Khamenei → appear → July
US President Donald Trump said he believes Iran's Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is alive but was seriously wounded in the strikes that killed his father, following fresh reports speculating that the younger Khamenei had died.
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Khamenei → say → reports
"I don't think he's dead.
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he → think → ?
He was very seriously wounded.
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He → wound → ?
He was very seriously wounded, but I don't think he's dead," Trump told conservative commentator Glenn Beck.
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Trump → wound → Beck
Trump added he based his assessment on Iranian negotiators' own behaviour.
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he → add → behaviour
“If he is (dead), they're putting on a pretty good show because they talk about going back to talk to him all the time to get a final blessing on things," he said.
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he → put → things
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was selected as ayatollah by Iran's Assembly of Experts on 8 March, days after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israeli strikes of 28 February that launched the war.
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that → select → war
He has not appeared in public, in photographs or in any verified video or audio recording since his appointment.
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He → appear → appointment
The Atlantic, citing unnamed sources close to the Iranian government, reported this week that Tehran was "abuzz" with speculation about his fate.
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Tehran → cite → fate
Former official and Khamenei relative Mohammad Hossein Khoshvaght told the magazine that fewer than five people had met with Khamenei since March, "due to security precautions."
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people → tell → precautions
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously said communication with Khamenei had become "extremely difficult”.
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communication → say → Khamenei
US media previously reported, citing unnamed Iranian officials, that Mojtaba Khamenei sustained serious injuries in the strikes, has undergone multiple surgeries on his legs and arms, and has difficulty speaking due to severe burns to his face and lips.
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Khamenei → report → face
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was wounded and likely "disfigured".
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he → say → ?
Tehran did not confirm those accounts.
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Tehran → confirm → accounts
Trump also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it was effectively open.
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it → address → Hormuz
"We take a lot of ships through the strait now.
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We → take → strait
We're taking them in," he said, adding that mines had been cleared.
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mines → take → them
The strait remains formally closed to unrestricted commercial traffic under Iranian authority.
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strait → close → authority
Iranian forces have continued to intercept vessels attempting to transit routes not approved by Tehran, and US naval operations have been required to escort vessels through.
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operations → continue → vessels
Trump said military and economic pressure on Iran was producing results.
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pressure → say → results
"These measures are moving towards a very big victory.
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measures → move → victory
We will achieve a major victory very soon," he said.
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he → achieve → victory
He also repeated his position on Iran's nuclear programme.
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He → repeat → programme
"We cannot allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.
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Iran → allow → weapons
We cannot allow it, because they are crazy and they will use it.
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they → allow → it
"
"So far I've stopped it twice,” he added.
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he → stop → it
