U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing that Iran's newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may have been seriously wounded and is "likely disfigured" following recent U.S.-Israeli military strikes, a claim Iranian officials quickly rejected as speculation amid an escalating regional conflict.
Hegseth raised the possibility of injuries while discussing the absence of any video or audio appearance by Mojtaba Khamenei since he assumed leadership of the Islamic Republic on March 8, 2026, after the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike.
The defense secretary's comments, reported by People, pointed to what U.S. officials view as unusual silence from Iran's new leader.
According to Hegseth, Mojtaba Khamenei's condition may explain why he has not addressed the public directly. The Pentagon chief said the Iranian leader was "likely disfigured."
The remarks come as Washington and its allies continue an intense military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure and leadership figures across the country.
U.S. and Israeli forces have launched thousands of strikes since the conflict escalated, focusing on missile sites, military bases and command centers tied to Iran's security apparatus.
One strike reportedly killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's long-time supreme leader, as well as several members of his family, including Mojtaba Khamenei's wife, according to reports cited in the coverage.
Officials in Washington have suggested Mojtaba Khamenei may also have been caught within the strike zone.
The speculation surrounding the Iranian leader's condition intensified after his first official message as supreme leader was delivered in writing and read by a broadcaster on Iranian state television, rather than appearing as a recorded video or live address.
For American officials monitoring Tehran's leadership structure, the absence of direct appearances raised questions about whether the new leader had been physically injured.
Iranian authorities, however, rejected the suggestion that their leader was incapacitated.
A senior Iranian official told media outlets that Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured but emphasized that the wounds were minor and that he remained fully capable of performing his duties as supreme leader.
Iranian officials insisted the leadership structure remains intact despite the ongoing war.
Tehran has not released new photographs or video footage of Mojtaba Khamenei since he took power, a move that has fueled speculation among analysts and foreign governments about the extent of his injuries or his ability to govern.
Iranian state media has historically tightly controlled images and communications involving the country's top leadership, particularly during moments of political instability or external conflict.
Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leadership transition has become one of the most sensitive issues facing the Iranian government.
By limiting visual appearances and issuing statements only in written form, Iranian authorities may be attempting to manage domestic perceptions of stability while the country faces sustained airstrikes and mounting military pressure.
