US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely weakened following recent US-Israeli operations and alleged that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is “90 per cent gone”.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran’s armed forces and senior leadership had suffered heavy losses during the conflict.
“They have no navy, they have no air force, it’s all gone. Their anti-aircraft is gone, their leaders have all been killed, their best leaders have been killed,” Trump said.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "We're doing another very major attack tonight (on Iran). They want to make a deal. They came back. We made a deal 2 days ago… They've been negotiating for 47 years, but nobody's ever hit them militarily. We're hitting them very hard."… pic.twitter.com/OSYuKNFQ8h
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2026
Trump makes fresh claim on Mojtaba Khamenei
During the interview, Trump also claimed that Iran’s senior leadership had been eliminated in the conflict.
Also Read | Trump’s Patriot promise puts focus on the world’s most sought-after air defence system
“They’re gone. Khomeini is gone,” the president said, using the name of the late Iranian revolutionary leader who died in 1989, while apparently referring to Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war on February 28.
“His son is 90 per cent gone,” he added.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since February 28, when he was reportedly injured in the same US-Israeli strikes that killed his father. His absence has fuelled speculation over his condition and whereabouts, although there has been no official update from Iranian authorities.
Fighting resumes after ceasefire
Trump’s remarks came as hostilities between Washington and Tehran escalated again following the collapse of a months-long ceasefire. The US president has formally informed Congress that military operations against Iran resumed last week after he authorised multiple rounds of strikes on Iranian targets.
"The illusion of American might has crumbled."
— IRGC (@IRGC_Press) July 13, 2026
The U.S. aircraft carrier Ford is now burning under Iranian missiles — a decisive blow to a fading empire. 🇺🇸🇮🇷🔥💥🇮🇷🇺🇸⚔️💀 pic.twitter.com/PJAKTZQZh0
The renewed fighting has widened beyond Iranian territory. Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Bahrain and two UAE-linked tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker attack killed one mariner of Indian origin and injured eight others.
The United Arab Emirates has condemned the incident and warned it could respond, raising concerns that another Gulf nation could be drawn into the conflict.
Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint
Trump has also indicated that the United States plans to charge ships for secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a major shift in long-standing American policy on freedom of navigation.
Also Read | Lindsey Graham’s death triggers South Carolina Senate race: Who’s in the running?
The strategic waterway remains central to the conflict, with both the United States and Iran seeking to assert control over one of the world’s busiest energy shipping routes through which a significant share of global crude oil and natural gas trade passes.
FAQs:
What did Donald Trump say about Mojtaba Khamenei?
Trump claimed Mojtaba Khamenei was “90 per cent gone” during a Fox News interview.
Why is Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition being discussed?
He has not appeared publicly since reportedly being injured in strikes on February 28, leading to speculation about his health.
