Agencies | Washington:
US President Donald Trump has claimed there is a “good probability” that he knows the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while asserting that the Iranian leader remains “very seriously injured” following attacks earlier this year.
Speaking during an interview with NBC News’ Meet the Press, Trump was asked whether he knew where Khamenei was and how he was doing physically. In response, he said, “I don’t want to say whether or not I know where he is, but there’s a good probability that I do.”
When pressed on whether Khamenei was currently inside Iran, Trump declined to provide further details, saying, “I’d rather not say that.”
The US President also commented on Khamenei’s reported health condition, describing him as “pretty badly injured” and “very seriously injured.” At the same time, Trump acknowledged what he called “a certain bravery” in the Iranian leader’s continued public remarks despite his injuries.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since reportedly sustaining injuries during strikes that killed his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei, in the early stages of the US-Israeli military campaign launched on February 28, which marked the beginning of the ongoing conflict.
Trump also described the younger Khamenei as “more rational” than his father, citing his age and approach to leadership.
“Younger. I think more rational. Injured. He’s pretty badly injured. So there’s a certain bravery there. A lot of people, if they were injured that badly, they wouldn’t be talking about how we’re doing with the United States. They’d have other things on their mind,” Trump said.
No Immediate Release of Frozen Iranian Assets
During the interview, Trump also addressed the possibility of a future agreement with Tehran, stating that any deal aimed at ending hostilities would not include the immediate release of frozen Iranian assets.
He said Iran would first need to reach an agreement with Washington before discussions on sanctions relief or asset releases could move forward.
“If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking,” Trump said.
Iran has reportedly sought the release of more than $100 billion in frozen overseas assets as part of any potential agreement with the United States.
Trump further indicated that he was not insisting on the inclusion of Lebanon in any short-term arrangement with Tehran, signalling a narrower focus on the immediate issues surrounding the conflict and future negotiations.
His remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic uncertainty and efforts to explore pathways toward de-escalation in the region.
