Donald Trump said he believes Mojtaba Khamenei, reported to be Iran’s new supreme leader after the death of Ali Khamenei, is “probably alive,” though he suggested the cleric may have been injured during recent military strikes linked to a conflict between Iran and the United States.

Trump made the remarks during an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade. When asked about Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition, Trump said he believed the Iranian leader was likely still alive but possibly wounded. His comments came as speculation spread due to the absence of recent public appearances or new images of Mojtaba Khamenei following his reported appointment to the leadership position.

According to reports circulating in international media, Mojtaba Khamenei was near the location of a major airstrike on Feb. 28 that reportedly killed his father, Ali Khamenei. The attack was part of a broader military campaign against Iranian targets, which U.S. officials have described as an effort to weaken Iran’s military infrastructure, including missile and drone production capabilities.

Despite rumors circulating online and in some outlets about the extent of Mojtaba Khamenei’s injuries, none of those claims have been independently confirmed. Iranian authorities have not provided detailed information about his condition, and he has not appeared publicly since the reported leadership transition. Because of the lack of verified details, officials and analysts say it remains unclear whether he was injured during the strike.

Trump also said the United States had inflicted heavy damage on Iran’s military capacity during the ongoing conflict. He claimed that U.S. forces had destroyed a significant number of Iranian missiles, drones and manufacturing facilities connected to those weapons systems. According to Trump, the military campaign was aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to carry out attacks across the region.

Meanwhile, a statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei was broadcast on Iranian state television, in which he vowed that Iran would respond to the killing of his father and those killed in the conflict. The message was read by a news anchor while an image of Khamenei appeared on screen, rather than showing the cleric himself. The broadcast added to the uncertainty about his condition, but it confirmed that Iranian authorities were communicating messages in his name during the tense period following the leadership change.