Alleged Death of Mojtaba Khamenei Is “Just a Rumor” – Trump

 

Alleged Death of Mojtaba Khamenei Is “Just a Rumor” – Trump

Washington, March 15, 2026 (Lusa) – U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed reports of the alleged death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei as “a rumor,” though he noted that Khamenei has not been seen in public since the start of the conflict.

On Thursday, Khamenei addressed the nation for the first time since his election on March 8 as the new Supreme Leader, but the speech was read by a television presenter rather than delivered in person.

“I don’t even know if [Khamenei] is alive. So far, nobody has been able to prove it,” Trump said Saturday in a phone interview with NBC.

According to multiple sources close to the regime, the 56‑year‑old cleric was injured in the same attack that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, on February 28, the first day of bombings in Tehran.

Trump reiterated that he had heard Khamenei “is not alive,” but added: “If he is, he should do something very smart for his country, which is to surrender.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Khamenei was wounded during the joint Israeli‑American air offensive and was likely disfigured.

Despite these claims, Trump dismissed reports of the cleric’s death as “just a rumor.”

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisted there was “no problem” with Mojtaba Khamenei, stating that the Supreme Leader “is fulfilling his duties in accordance with the Constitution.”

On Friday, the United States announced a $10 million reward (€8.7 million) for information on the whereabouts of senior Iranian officials.

In the same interview, Trump suggested the U.S. could strike Iran’s Kharg Island again, the hub of the country’s oil industry, which he described as having been hit by “one of the most powerful bombings in Middle Eastern history.”

“Maybe we’ll bomb it a few more times, just for fun,” the U.S. President said.

Trump also made clear he is not willing to reach an agreement with Tehran. “Iran wants a deal, and I don’t, because the conditions are not good enough yet,” he said, adding that any deal would have to be “very solid.”

He declined to provide further details but said the agreement would require Iran to abandon any ambitions of developing nuclear weapons.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, through which one‑fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, Trump said it was unclear whether Iran had laid mines in the area and promised “an extensive cleanup effort.”

“We believe other countries that are struggling, and in some cases being prevented from obtaining oil, will join us,” the Republican added.