Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei wounded, likely disfigured: Hegseth

WASHINGTON,— U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been wounded and is likely disfigured, raising questions about his ability to govern after nearly two weeks of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

No photographs or video of Khamenei have been released since an Israeli attack at the start of the conflict killed much of his family, including his father and wife.

Khamenei made his first public statement Thursday, read by a television presenter, in which he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. He also called on neighboring countries to remove U.S. military bases from their territories or face potential Iranian attacks.

“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,” Hegseth told reporters at 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.”

Iran has confirmed Khamenei was injured. An Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that the wounds were minor. On Friday, Iran’s ambassador to Japan, Peyman Saadat, told Asahi TV that Khamenei was not impaired and remains a functioning leader.

Saadat said Khamenei sustained injuries during the current conflict following the assassination of his predecessor.

“The wounds do not stop him from carrying out his duties,” Saadat added. “He remains fully capable as a leader. Nothing has been compromised, which is why he was chosen.”

Hegseth spoke alongside General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressing that U.S. strikes aim to disable Iran’s missile, drone, and naval capabilities.

Hegseth said the United States will continue its military campaign in Iran.

“We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemy,” he said.

“No quarter” refers to refusing to spare someone who intends to surrender, a practice prohibited under international humanitarian law, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Hegseth has also moved to restructure the military justice system, replacing the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Since the strikes began February 28, the U.S. and Israel have hit more than 6,000 targets in Iran, killing roughly 2,000 people, U.S. officials said.

Two Pentagon sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said additional forces are being sent to the region, including the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and its Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Tripoli, currently in the Asia-Pacific, can also carry fighter jets. In total, 2,500 Marines will be added, along with more sailors.

Despite the U.S. and Israeli attacks, Iranian drones have continued flights into Kuwait, Iraq, the UAE, Bahrain, and Oman.

Meanwhile, six U.S. service members died Friday when a U.S. military refueling plane crashed in western Iraq.

The Pentagon said another aircraft was involved but ruled out hostile or friendly fire. Since February 28, 11 U.S. troops have been killed in the ongoing campaign against Iran.

(With files from Reuters)