Rabat – US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and was “likely disfigured,” raising questions about his ability to lead the country following nearly two weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Speaking at a press briefing, Hegseth suggested the injuries may explain why Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being selected as Iran’s supreme leader last Sunday by a clerical assembly.
“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said. “He put out a statement yesterday, a weak one, actually, but there was no voice, and there was no video. It was a written statement.”
Khamenei has not been seen by the public since his appointment, and his first remarks were delivered on Thursday through a written statement read by a news host on Iranian state television.
In the statement, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and urged neighboring countries to shut down US military bases on their territory or risk Iranian retaliation.
Iranian officials have acknowledged that the new leader was injured but have downplayed the severity. State television described the newly appointed supreme leader as “war-wounded,” with a top Iranian official insisting on Wednesday that Khamenei had only been “lightly injured” and was actively leading the country’s war effort.
Hegseth casts doubt on that account, questioning why Iran had not released video or audio of its new leader.
“Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement?” Hegseth said. “I think you know why. His father is dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run, and he lacks legitimacy.”
The remarks come as tensions remain high following nearly two weeks of military confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.