Questions continue to swirl around the whereabouts and condition of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, after conflicting reports emerged following a recent air strike. US President Donald Trump on Monday said it was unclear whether the Iranian leader was alive, days after US officials suggested he may have been injured.

Trump raises doubts over leader's status

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump acknowledged the lack of clarity around Mojtaba Khamenei's condition. "We don't know... if he's dead or not. I will say that nobody has seen him, which is unusual," he said.

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He also referred to unverified reports about possible injuries. "A lot of people are saying that he's badly disfigured. They're saying that he lost his leg, one leg, and he's, you know, been hurt very badly. Other people are saying he's dead. Nobody's saying he's 100 percent healthy. You know he hasn't spoken," Trump added.

Highlighting the uncertainty, he said, "We don't know who we're dealing with in Iran," adding, "We don't know who their leader is."

Reports suggest injury during strike

According to reports, Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public since the conflict began. The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that he may have been injured in a strike carried out by the United States and Israel on the first day of the war.

Another report by The Telegraph said Mojtaba had been inside a building with his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, shortly before it was hit. He reportedly stepped out moments before the strike, which killed his father.

The report added that Mojtaba sustained a minor leg injury in the incident, while his wife, identified as Haddad, was killed.

Conflicting claims from Iran

Iran's state news agency IRNA has described Mojtaba Khamenei as a "wounded war veteran", adding to the uncertainty around his condition.

However, Iran's Foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has dismissed concerns, stating that there are no issues regarding the leader's health.

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With no public appearance or official confirmation, the situation remains unclear, leaving key questions unanswered about Iran's leadership at a critical time.