US President Donald Trump cast doubt in an NBC News interview on whether Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is alive.

"I don't even know if he's alive. Nobody's been able to show him yet. I've heard he's not alive, and if that's the case, he should do something very smart for his country, and that's capitulation," Trump said.

He called reports of Khamenei's death "rumors."

Trump also declined to say whether there is any specific Iranian leader he would like to see as the Supreme Leader of Iran.

"There are living people who could be great leaders for the future of the country," Trump said.

Asked whether he is in contact with any potential leaders, Trump replied: "I don't want to say that. I don't want to put them in danger."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Ayatollah Khamenei is "wounded and probably disfigured," calling his written address "weak."