US’s Hegseth claims new Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei injured
Al Jazeera
Pete Hegseth’s remarks come a day after Khamenei pledged to keep fighting in first statement since he was named leader.
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been wounded in US-Israeli attacks on the country.
During a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday, Hegseth said Khamenei “is wounded and likely disfigured”.
“He put our statement yesterday – a weak one actually – but there was no voice, and there was no video. It was a written statement,” Hegseth said.
The Pentagon chief did not provide evidence for his assessment, and Iran has not given any details about Khamenei’s condition. Iranian leaders also did not immediately respond to Hegseth’s claims.
Khamenei on Thursday issued his first public statement since taking over as supreme leader following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, the first day of the United States and Israeli assault on Iran.
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