As reported by Anadolu Agency on Monday, July 13, 2026, President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s military leadership had been “killed off” and that Mojtaba Khamenei, son and potential successor to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was “90% gone.”

President Trump said during a Monday interview with Fox News that Iran’s military potential had “been decimated,” following months of heightened tensions with Israel.

Trump noted that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely diminished and its capacity to retaliate significantly weakened.

“They don’t have a Navy. They don’t have an Air Force. It’s all gone. Their air defenses are gone. Their leaders have been killed off,” he added.

Trump noted that Iran’s military leadership had been decimated in the recent attacks.

“Their military commanders have been killed. They’re gone. Khomeini is gone,” he said, using the name of the former Iranian leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in 1989. According to reports, Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran, was killed in the opening assault by U.S. and Israeli forces on Iran in late February. This marked the turning point in the war, with many Iranians believing that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, would succeed him.

Trump stated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, was also “90 percent gone.”

“His son is 90 percent gone,” Trump said, not providing many specifics or justification for his assertions.

According to reports, Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the same attack in which his father died. It is not clear how he is doing now, but he was not present at the funerals of Ali Khamenei in Iran and Iraq this month.

The remarks come at a time of renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran. In addition to exchanging fresh attacks over the weekend, the U.S. and Iran have both launched fresh assaults in an effort to gain leverage over one another in the region. Nevertheless, there has been a call for an easing of tensions, with several nations imploring both powers to halt their confrontations.

Trump proclaimed his intent to “reinstall” the blockade in response to fresh tensions with Iran.

Trump declared that the United States would impose a “blockade” on Iran to increase pressure on the regime in Tehran.

Trump stated that the United States would secure the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and that transiting tankers would be charged for their safety.

“The ships will pay to go through. We will provide security, and they will pay for it,” he said.

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