U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been wounded and possibly disfigured in U.S. and Israeli attacks. Speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday, Hegseth said Khamenei’s condition is critical, though no evidence was provided. Iran has not immediately responded to these claims.
Since February 28, immediately following the initial attacks, U.S. and Israeli forces have targeted over 15,000 sites in Iran, including military installations and defense plants. According to the latest figures from Iran’s Ministry of Health, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured, while Iran says civilian sites such as schools and hospitals have also been affected.
On Thursday, the supreme leader issued his first written statement, warning that Iran would strike U.S. bases in the region unless they are closed immediately and that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would continue. U.S. President Donald Trump also expressed his displeasure at Khamenei’s appointment, suggesting he could become a target like his father.
