United States President Donald Trump stated that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains alive despite severe injuries, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps accused Washington of blocking a preliminary transit and revenue-sharing agreement with Oman over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Assesses Supreme Leader’s Condition and Military Strikes
Speaking in an interview with conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck, United States President Donald Trump addressed the status of Iranian leadership and the ongoing military campaign. Trump asserted that Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, disputing speculation that arose after the leader assumed power following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in February and subsequently remained out of public view.
I don’t think he died. He was badly wounded. The left side of his body, his arm, his leg, everything. He was badly wounded. But I don’t think he died. Donald Trump, United States President, via Erem News
Trump also maintained that American forces had eliminated twenty Iranian boats during operations overnight, declaring that the naval forces of Iran had been neutralized alongside its air capabilities. Pointing to domestic economic pressure inside Iran—including inflation reaching 300 percent, devalued currency, and unpaid soldiers—Trump contended that financial power and military pressure are driving the conflict toward a decisive outcome.
Disputes Over Strait of Hormuz Transit and Omani Mediation
While military operations continue, diplomatic efforts involving regional neighbors have faced friction. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that the United States is actively obstructing an agreement with Oman regarding the management and revenue generated from the Strait of Hormuz.
According to statements reported by Iranian state media, Tehran and Muscat began negotiations roughly a month prior concerning a framework to establish a temporary maritime corridor and clear mines from the vital waterway. However, military officials in Tehran cautioned that the passage will not reopen unless Washington abandons its current obstruction and returns to terms outlined in previous understandings.
Bilateral Talks in Tehran Outline Step-by-Step Framework
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi met in Tehran to discuss a phased framework intended to provide a practical foundation for maritime safety. The proposed model incorporates a joint temporary corridor and a cooperative de-mining project designed to restore navigation under terms stemming from a prior United States-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June.
Albusaidi expressed optimism on the social media platform X, stating an expectation that a temporary corridor and practical arrangements for safe navigation would soon be announced. He added that long-term management and permanent solutions for the strait would be addressed later through regional cooperation in alignment with diplomatic protocols.
Broader Diplomatic and Economic Pressures
The standoff over maritime access coincides with fresh economic measures from Washington. United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently threatened to economically strangle the Iranian state through newly imposed sanctions.
At the same time, discussions involving international intelligence figures have touched upon separate geopolitical fronts. Trump characterized a visit by Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliff to Moscow as a semi-routine trip focused on the war in Ukraine, distancing the diplomatic exchange from Middle Eastern security matters or tensions involving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
