US Official Says Iran’s New Leader “Wounded, Likely Disfigured” 

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is “wounded and likely disfigured,” as tensions escalate in the Gulf.

During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth described the 36-year-old Khamenei, who took power after the February 28 airstrikes that killed his father, as absent from public view and lacking legitimacy. He added that Iran’s leadership appears weakened amid the ongoing military strikes.

Khamenei issued his first public statement on Thursday, read aloud by a state television announcer rather than delivered in person. The written statement vowed to maintain control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, threatened attacks on Gulf states, and called for the shutdown of US military bases in the region. He also pledged “never-ending” revenge for those killed in strikes, including civilians, while praising Iran’s forces and urging national unity.

Hegseth dismissed the statement as “weak,” noting the absence of Khamenei’s voice or image and fueling speculation about his condition.

There has been no independent verification of Khamenei’s reported injuries or current location. Meanwhile, Iran’s threats have contributed to regional tensions and higher global oil prices, though monitoring groups report no confirmed incidents in the strait in the past 24 hours.

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The comments come amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, which officials say are aimed at weakening Tehran’s operational capacity and leadership cohesion.