Trump says Mojtaba Khamenei may be severely wounded or missing, adding to uncertainty over Iran’s leadership transition.
BY PC Bureau
March 30, 2026: The US is portraying its strikes on Iran’s top leadership as a decisive turning point in the war, with Donald Trump arguing that the killings have effectively reshaped the country’s ruling order.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials had fundamentally altered Iran’s governing structure. “The one regime was decimated… the next is mostly gone, and now we’re dealing with entirely different people,” he said, describing the new leadership as comparatively “reasonable.”
Despite Trump’s characterization, analysts note that Iran’s core institutions—including its clerical establishment and security apparatus—remain in place. Washington has reportedly explored engagement with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a figure closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and widely viewed as a hardliner.
Trump on Iran: “We’ve had regime change already”
Trump is inventing a new definition of ‘regime change’ because the old one-actually overthrowing the government-didn’t happen. pic.twitter.com/y6j17Dqpu8
— Ounka (@OunkaOnX) March 30, 2026
READ: Trump Floats Seizing Iran’s Oil, Hints at Taking Kharg Island
“It truly is regime change… you can’t do much better than that,” Trump insisted.
On the fate of Mojtaba Khamenei—widely seen as a successor to his father—Trump said the younger Khamenei has not been heard from and may be “seriously wounded,” following early strikes in the conflict.
The US president declined to clarify whether Washington would pursue a ground invasion, but maintained that the war was progressing faster than expected, claiming it was “weeks ahead of schedule,” even as official timelines suggest several more weeks of fighting.
Trump also addressed internal differences within his administration, suggesting Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard holds a “softer” stance on Iran’s nuclear threat compared to his own position.
On maritime tensions, Trump said he had yet to confirm reports that Iran imposed tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but warned the US could shut the vital shipping lane “in two minutes.”
He further claimed, without providing evidence, that Gulf states were actively retaliating against Iran—though available reports indicate their responses have largely been defensive, focused on intercepting incoming drones and missiles.
