Iran’s new supreme leader wounded, likely disfigured, US defense secretary saysIran‘s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, questioning Khamenei’s ability to govern after nearly two weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran. “We know the new so-called not so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured. It was a written statement,” Hegseth told a briefing. Why a written statement? He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy.”An Iranian ​official told Reuters on Wednesday that the newly appointed supreme leader was lightly injured but was continuing to operate, after state television described him as war-‌wounded.

Source: Daily Nation March 14, 2026 01:42 UTC