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Trump himself announced the news publicly that day on Truth Social.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
In the chaotic aftermath of the strikes, Iranian power brokers quickly elevated Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, to the powerful position of Supreme Leader. The 56-year-old cleric had long been rumored to be groomed behind the scenes to inherit the regime’s highest authority.
But his sudden rise was overshadowed by reports that he had also been caught in the devastating bombardment.
Early intelligence assessments suggested Mojtaba suffered severe injuries during the same airstrikes that killed his father. His disappearance from public view immediately fueled speculation about his condition and whether he was physically capable of ruling.
Adding to the uncertainty, Pete Hegseth stated during a recent press briefing that Mojtaba was believed to have been “gravely injured” and possibly disfigured in the attack.
Meanwhile, the New York Post reported that Iranian state media may have attempted to cover up the extent of his injuries by distributing artificially altered images intended to show the new leader appearing healthy and intact.
Those images, critics say, only deepened suspicions that Iran’s leadership is hiding the true state of its ruling class.
Complicating matters further, the United States Department of State has now announced a reward of up to $10 million for information related to Mojtaba Khamenei and other high-ranking figures within the Iranian regime.
The reward signals that Washington is actively seeking reliable intelligence on the leadership structure currently operating in Tehran.
At the same time, Trump revealed that representatives from the Iranian government have quietly begun reaching out about the possibility of negotiating a ceasefire.
But the president indicated that any agreement remains far from certain.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” the president added.
Trump’s stance reflects his broader strategy toward Tehran, which has long centered on applying overwhelming pressure to force dramatic concessions from the regime.
Even as uncertainty surrounds Mojtaba Khamenei’s fate, Trump made clear that his ultimate objective goes beyond negotiating with Iran’s current leadership.
The president has repeatedly stated that he does not recognize the legitimacy of the regime and has continued calling for its dismantling.
With Iran’s leadership shrouded in secrecy and rumors swirling about the condition of its newest Supreme Leader, the situation inside Tehran appears more unstable than at any point in recent memory.
Whether Mojtaba Khamenei is alive, gravely wounded, or already gone remains unknown. But one thing is certain: the power struggle unfolding behind Iran’s closed doors could shape the next chapter of the conflict in the Middle East.
