US and Israel Wound and Likely Disfigure Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Hegseth Says

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “wounded and likely disfigured,” repeating and endorsing multiple reports that he was injured in the early stages of U.S. and Israeli strikes.

Hegseth used blunt language to describe Iran’s leadership as weakened and under pressure, framing the reported injury as confirmation that Iran’s command structure has been disrupted.

IBTimes India

His remarks were presented as corroboration of earlier media reporting and were delivered during a high-profile press briefing in Washington.

Both Hegseth and multiple outlets tied the reported injuries to the early US-Israeli air campaign, with The Hill saying Khamenei was wounded "during the first day of airstrikes by the U.S. and Israeli militaries on Iran."

The New York Post noted that the strikes on Feb. 28 killed members of Khamenei’s family and said Khamenei had not been seen or heard publicly since, while the Northeast Herald reported that the Pentagon believes the leader was injured in those attacks.

New York Post

Sources present the timing and cause as linked to the same wave of strikes, although precise on-the-ground verification of Khamenei’s condition remains dependent on official and media reports.

Hegseth’s comments also attacked Khamenei’s legitimacy and public messaging, highlighting that the new leader’s initial communication was a written statement without audio or video and portraying the regime as "in a mess."

“US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and possibly disfigured during recent US-Israeli strikes”

Northeast Herald

He accused Khamenei of lacking legitimacy and being on the run, and he mocked the written-only statement as weak and suspicious.

The Hill captured Hegseth’s harsher rhetoric toward Iran’s leadership, while Northeast Herald repeated the Pentagon questioning of the format of Khamenei’s first address.

At the same time, reporting shows some ambiguity and conflicting signals about public appearances by Iran’s senior officials and the precise status of Mojtaba Khamenei.

The New York Post noted both that Khamenei had not been seen publicly since the strikes and that videos posted online showed many top leaders marching in Tehran for Quds Day, listing officials such as President Masoud Pezeshkian and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Hill

Other sources emphasized that Hegseth was "confirming reports," which underscores that journalists and officials were relying on multiple, sometimes competing, open-source and media accounts to characterize Khamenei’s condition.

Hegseth’s public framing — including sharp language about Iranian leaders and references to the reported family deaths — aligns with a US portrayal of Iranian leadership both as physically harmed and politically weakened, but outlets also cited speculation from other figures and emphasized that independent verification is limited.

“(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 2 paras) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, March 13 (Yonhap) -- U”

Yonhap News Agency

The New York Post referenced President Trump’s comment that Khamenei was "probably alive" and other speculative reporting; Northeast Herald and The Hill focused on the Pentagon’s statements and Hegseth’s role in relaying and affirming those reports.

Yonhap News Agency

Together the pieces show a convergence around the Pentagon claim while also leaving open questions about on-the-ground verification and the broader implications for Iran’s governance.