US Official Alleges Iran's New Supreme Leader is Wounded and Possibly Disfigured
In a dramatic press briefing on Friday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made explosive claims about the condition of Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Hegseth asserted that Khamenei is wounded and "likely disfigured" following critical injuries sustained in an air strike.
Hegseth Questions Absence of Video Message
Hegseth pointed to the nature of Mojtaba Khamenei's first public statement since assuming power as evidence of his compromised state. "We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth stated bluntly. He emphasized that the statement was delivered in written form, read by a news anchor on Iranian state television, rather than through a personal video or audio recording.
"He put out a statement yesterday - a weak one actually - but there was no voice and no video. It was a written statement," Hegseth explained. "Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father is dead. He's scared, he's injured, he's on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It's a mess for them. Who's in charge? Iran may not even know."
Content of the Iranian Statement
The statement broadcast on Thursday contained strong rhetoric from the new leader. It vowed that Iran would not hesitate to "avenge the blood of Iranians" killed in recent attacks and promised continued assaults on Dubai. Additionally, it threatened to block the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping lane.
In his remarks, Mojtaba Khamenei also expressed gratitude towards Iran's network of allied armed groups across the Middle East. He highlighted the ongoing role of the "resistance" movement in Yemen and various armed factions in Iraq in the conflict against Iran's adversaries.
Hegseth Dismisses Iranian Threats
During the briefing, Hegseth ridiculed the warning about using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage. He characterized Iran's actions in the strait as "exercising sheer desperation."
"We have been dealing with it, and don't need to worry about it," Hegseth said confidently. "Of course, for decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do, hold the strait hostage."
Conflicting Reports on Leader's Condition
The claims about Mojtaba Khamenei's injuries have sparked a flurry of conflicting reports. Several media outlets have suggested he is in a coma after being critically wounded. Sources speaking to The Sun provided graphic details, alleging that the 56-year-old leader lost one leg and suffered severe damage to his stomach or liver.
According to these sources, Mojtaba Khamenei is under intensive care at Sina University Hospital in Tehran's historic quarter. A section of the hospital has reportedly been sealed off and surrounded by heavy security. The source, while not a medic, claimed to have information from members of the hospital's trauma team who described his condition as "very serious" under the care of Dr. Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi.
Official Denials and Background
In contrast, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and a government adviser, has publicly stated that the new supreme leader is "safe and sound." This official denial adds to the uncertainty surrounding the true state of affairs.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assumed power after his father was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. His rapid ascension and the immediate controversy over his physical condition have plunged Iran's leadership into further turmoil amid an escalating regional conflict.
The situation remains fluid, with the US administration's assertions directly challenging Iranian official narratives and raising serious questions about stability within the Iranian regime.
