US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday (March 13th) that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is injured and “probably disfigured”.
“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is injured and probably disfigured. He issued a statement yesterday. A weak one, actually, but there was no voice and no video. It was a written statement,” Pentagon Hegseth told the briefing.
Hegseth did not provide evidence of Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition, but criticized the absence of a video or audio statement, calling it “poor” communication.
“Iran has a lot of cameras and a lot of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father – dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy.”
Khamenei’s first statement since taking power
Mojtaba Khamenei, who took over after the death of his father on the day the conflict began, made his first public remarks on Thursday (March 12th) through a statement. He vowed to continue military operations and warned neighboring countries against hosting US bases.
“We will maintain the Strait of Hormuz and neighboring countries must close US bases on their territory or risk being targeted by Iran,” Khamenei said in a statement.
The secretive new leader has not been seen in public since taking power, fueling speculation about his health and security status. According to the Iranian ambassador, Khamenei was wounded in the first attacks that killed his father and wife.
Threats and escalation in the region
In his first statements, Khamenei also promised an escalation of hostilities:
“I am keeping a file on revenge… more fronts will be opened,” state television said, signaling a potential widening of the conflict.
The conflict has already disrupted global energy supplies, affected the international economy and disrupted travel in the Gulf region.
US response and warning
Early Friday, US President Donald Trump issued a new online threat to Iran, highlighting the ongoing military campaign.
“Watch what happens today to these deranged scumbags,” Trump wrote, highlighting the damage done to Iran’s leadership.
He added that it was a “great honor” to be responsible for the strikes against Iran’s top officials.
This situation remains fluid, with continued uncertainty over Khamenei’s health and Iran’s military posture in the coming days.
