US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been wounded in US-Israeli attacks on the country.
In a news conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth said that 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.”
Pete Hegseth
The Pentagon Chief did not provide evidence for his assessment, and Iran has not given any details about Khamenei’s condition.
Yesterday, Khamenei 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.
In written remarks that were read out on Iranian state television, Khamenei said Iran would attack all US bases in the region unless they were shuttered immediately and pledged to maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian leader, who has not been seen publicly since the war began, said, “I would like to thank the brave fighters who are doing a great job at a time when our country is under pressure and under attack.”
US President Donald Trump had said earlier this week that he was “not happy” with the appointment of Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, suggesting that he may be targeted and killed like his father. “I don’t know if it’s going to last. I think they made a mistake,” the US President said on Monday.
Trump has voiced confidence that the Iranian people would rise up to replace their government following US and Israeli military strikes but added in an interview aired today that it may not happen straight away.
“I really think that’s a big hurdle to climb for people that don’t have weapons. I think it’s a very big hurdle … It’ll happen, but it probably will be, maybe not immediately.”
Donald Trump
However, there have been no signs of significant protests or any major defections against the Iranian ruling system since the US and Israel launched the war, which has killed more than 1,300 people.
Earlier on today, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and top Iranian security official Ali Larijani were seen at a mass al-Quds Day demonstration in the capital, Tehran.
People in Iran held rallies for al-Quds Day, an annual event held to express support for Palestinians and opposition to Israeli occupation.
The event was first initiated in 1979 by Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and since then, it has been observed every year in Iran and in several other countries.
Other key officials which attended the event include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.
Their public appearances came as Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth claimed that Iranian leaders had “gone underground cowering.”
Araghchi wrote on X that he is proud and honored to have accompanied “the Strong and Resilient People of Iran to mark International Quds Day.” “Iranians will ALWAYS stand firm and NEVER cower before cowardly attacks,” he added.
Ali Larijani also ridiculed Pentagon Chief Hegseth’s claim that Iranian leaders are hiding “like rats”, highlighting that several top officials, including President Pezeshkian, made public appearances at a rally in Tehran. “Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein’s island!” the top Iranian official noted on X, referring to the late sex offender who had close ties to rich and powerful people in the US.
US Issues Up To $10 million Reward For Information On Mojtaba Khamenei, Larijani
Meanwhile, the US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice programme called for information on “Iranian terrorist leaders”, including Mojtaba Khamenei.
Officials whom the US is seeking information on include Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, Deputy Chief of Staff Ali Asghar Hejazi, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Brigadier General Eskandar Momeni and Secretary to the Supreme Council Ali Larijani.
The State Department set the reward at up to $10m and said information could make people eligible for “relocation.” “These individuals command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plans, organises and executes terrorism around the world,” the poster stated.
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