Iran’s new supreme leader is wounded, ‘likely disfigured’, says Pete Hegseth

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington believes Iran’s new supreme leader has been wounded and is “likely disfigured” amid ongoing US Israeli military operations against Tehran.Speaking at a briefing, Hegseth said US officials were aware of the leader’s condition but did not provide further details about his injuries or current whereabouts. The remarks come as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to intensify across the region.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, assumed the role following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, earlier in the conflict. He has not appeared in public since taking office, fuelling speculation about his condition and whereabouts.
The war, which began with US Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets, has engulfed the West Asia region, triggering retaliatory attacks, rising casualties and growing concerns over regional stability.Hegseth also said US and Israeli jets continue to operate over Iranian airspace as strikes intensify, claiming that more than 6,000 targets linked to Iran’s military infrastructure have been hit so far.

He said the campaign has rapidly degraded Iran’s military capabilities and described Tehran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz as “sheer desperation”, while adding that the United States is managing the situation in the strategic waterway.

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