'Wounded and hiding': Pentagon says Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei likely 'disfigured' in strikes

Speaking at a press briefing at the Pentagon, Hegseth said Washington believes the Iranian leader was injured in the attacks.

“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said.

The defence secretary also questioned why Mojtaba Khamenei’s first address after assuming the position was issued only as a written statement, without an accompanying audio or video message.

“He put out a statement yesterday — a weak one actually — but there was no voice and there was no video,” Hegseth said. “Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why.”

Hegseth further claimed that Iran’s leadership was in disarray following the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“His father, dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy. It’s a mess for them. Who is in charge? Iran may not even know,” he added.

The Pentagon briefing came shortly after the United States Central Command confirmed that at least four US service members were killed after a refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

During the briefing, Hegseth also said recent US-Israeli strikes had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

According to him, the allied forces have targeted about 15,000 enemy positions since the conflict began.

“Their missile volume is down 90 percent. Their one-way attack drones yesterday were down 95 percent,” he said, adding that Iran is now showing “sheer desperation” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei’s first public statement since becoming Supreme Leader was read out by a news anchor on Iranian state television on Thursday, with the leader himself not appearing on camera.

In the message, he said Iran would continue its attacks in the region and insisted the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as leverage against the United States.

Khamenei also vowed that Iran would not retreat and would resist with “full force,” promising to avenge the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, as well as Iranian citizens killed in the ongoing conflict.