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

No images have been released of Mr Mojtaba Khamenei since an Israeli strike at the start of the war. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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WASHINGTON – Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 13, questioning his ability to govern after nearly two weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

No images have been released of Mr Mojtaba Khamenei since an Israeli strike at the start of the war that killed much of his family, including his father and wife.

His first comments came in a statement read out by a television presenter on March 12. In the statement, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and called on neighbouring countries to close US bases on their territory or risk Iran targeting them.

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

“Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty 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.”