IANS
Washington
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been wounded and forced into hiding as the country’s military leadership struggled amid intense American strikes.
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said Iran’s leadership was under growing pressure as the military campaign continued.
“Iran’s leadership is in no better shape, desperate and hiding,” he said.
Hegseth said the newly appointed leader had issued a written statement calling for unity but had not appeared publicly.
“We know the new so-called not-so Supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said.
“He put out a statement yesterday… but there was no voice, and there was no video. It was a written statement.”
The defence secretary questioned why the leader had not addressed the country directly despite access to communication tools. “Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why,” he said.
“He’s scared. He’s injured. He’s on the run, and he lacks legitimacy.”
The remarks came as US officials said American forces had struck thousands of targets across Iran during the military campaign.
