Donald Trump has suggested that the new Supreme Leader is “not alive”, as speculation mounted over the health and whereabouts of the newly-appointed Iranian figure.
In a meandering interview full of contradictions, the US President claimed without evidence that Mojtaba Khamenei is “not alive” but “if he is,” he should “surrender.”
“I don't know if he's even alive. So far, nobody's been able to show him," Trump told NBC.
"I'm hearing he's not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that's surrender."
Trump’s remarks came over two weeks after the US bombed Tehran, killing Khamenei’s father and family, in an attack that is understood to have also injured the new leader.
The US and Israeli aggression against Iran prompted almost immediate retaliation, which has now spiralled into a regional war that has killed at least 2,000 people.
Khamenei has so far remained elusive, making no public appearances since his appointment following the Ayatollah's death.
Just days ago, a news reporter in Iran read out what was claimed to be Khamenei’s first public speech, in which he claimed that Iran would "avenge the blood" of those killed in the conflict.
He also claimed Iran has a policy of "friendship" with neighbouring countries, despite attacking many of them in the conflict, but advised them to close American bases, which he said Iran will continue to target.
But still, with no sign of the Supreme Leader, many are wondering who is actually running the country.
Some Iranians are unsure what the new Khamenei sounds like, let alone what kind of leader he will be to a country of over 92 million people.
Now, it has been claimed that the leader has been left in a coma after being hit by an airstrike which also lost him a leg.
Khamenei also suffered serious stomach or liver damage, sources quoted by the Sun claimed.
Information about the new leader appears to be carefully guarded, with details only gradually emerging about his suspected injuries.
Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus earlier confirmed that Khamenei sustained injuries to his arms and legs, and may be receiving hospital treatment.
“He was also there and he was injured in that bombardment but I haven’t seen that reflected in the foreign news,” Alireza Salarian told the Guardian this week.
“I have heard that he was injured in his legs and hand and arm… I think he is in the hospital because he is injured.”
It is unclear whether members of Iran’s leadership have been able to communicate with Khamenei in the last few days.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he would back the killing of Mojtaba if he didn’t agree to US demands and that he was “not happy” with the selection.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar was also asked whether the new Supreme Leader was a target, to which he responded: “You’ll have to wait and see.”
While Iran had seemingly sought to avoid a return to a hereditary line of succession, the appointment of Mojtaba raises further questions about what lies ahead for Iran.
Reportedly more “hardline” and “conservative” than his father, there now remains a question mark over future Iranian nuclear ambitions.
It appears the US and Israel have for now only facilitated the replacement of one Khamenei with another - one who is believed to have recently lost his father, mother, wife, son, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew in the deadly strikes.
