Larijani Mocks US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: 'Your Leaders On Epstein Island'

Iranian official Ali Larijani publicly mocked US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a post on X, taunting that while Iranian leaders were among the people, “your leaders? On Epstein’s island.”

“The secretary-general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, responding to remarks by U”

Al-Jazeera Net

The jibe directly quoted Jeffrey Epstein to underscore Larijani’s point and was shared alongside video clips and images intended to contradict Washington’s depiction of Tehran’s leadership.

Al-Jazeera Net

Larijani’s message was reported across regional and international outlets, highlighting the sharp public spat between Tehran’s security establishment and US military officials.

Larijani’s post was a direct rebuttal to remarks from US officials alleging Iran’s leadership was hiding "like rats" in underground bunkers.

US commentary — reported by outlets covering the confrontation — included claims about the authenticity of public appearances and suggested severe injury to senior figures; those accusations were cited by Larijani’s side as a provocation and a pretext for his mocking response.

Caspian Post

The exchange underscores the propaganda battle accompanying military operations and public information about leadership visibility.

To bolster his rebuttal, Larijani attached video clips showing President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials participating in International Quds Day events in Tehran, footage meant to demonstrate that leaders were visible and moving among citizens despite the ongoing campaign.

“Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani delivered a pointed retort Thursday to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s accusation that Iranian leaders cower “like rats” underground”

The Sunday Guardian

Iranian state broadcasters also aired images of senior clerics and commanders at public gatherings, a coordinated effort to portray resilience and accessibility at a time of heightened military pressure.

The exchange unfolded amid broader military operations described in regional reporting as "Operation Epic Fury" and came on Day 13 of that campaign, during which both sides intensified public messaging.

Regional outlets noted sustained bombing campaigns and reported that Iranian officials stressed leadership accessibility even as the capital faced strikes; Larijani’s post was framed as part of Tehran’s effort to counter narratives of isolation and to highlight American hypocrisy with the Epstein jibe.

Al-Jazeera Net

Regional and international coverage emphasized both the rhetoric and the propaganda value of Larijani’s post: outlets described it as a deliberate attempt to humanize Tehran’s leadership, to contest US claims about leaders’ safety and whereabouts, and to use a high-profile American scandal as a rhetorical weapon.

“Source: Reuters Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has mocked remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iranian leaders are hiding “like rats,” saying Iran’s officials remain among the public”

Caspian Post

Coverage noted that state media’s continuous images of leaders at public events were meant to project defiance and normalcy even while military campaigns and mutual accusations continued.

Caspian Post