Trump Claims Mojtaba Khamenei Severely Injured Amid Iran Strikes

US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's senior military leadership has been significantly diminished, asserting that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is '90% gone.' This statement came amidst ongoing hostilities between Washington and Tehran, including recent US and Israeli military strikes that Trump declared have devastated Iran's armed forces.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated, 'They have no navy. They have no air force. It's all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed.' He notably referenced Mojtaba Khamenei, who he said is currently recuperating from injuries sustained in an airstrike and was absent from his father's funeral ceremonies earlier this month.

The tensions escalated further as Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iran. He specified that vessels traversing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz would be charged for safe passage. In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to the US as becoming the 'Guardian of the Hormuz Strait.' He stated, 'The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran.' Trump indicated that the blockade would primarily target Iranian ships, allowing fair access for other nations.

Iranian officials reacted swiftly to Trump's declarations. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the concept of an American blockade, asserting, 'Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER.' Araghchi dismissed the proposal for a 20% fee on cargo as excessive.

This exchange illustrates the ongoing confrontations between the United States and Iran, highlighting competing narratives concerning control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for global trade. Both nations continue to assert their positions in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, with military tensions amplifying in the region.