Washington DC: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed on Friday that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured in US and Israel’s war against Iran.
“We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon press conference.
Mojtaba, in his first message since being appointed his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s successor, released a written statement on Thursday, but has not been seen in public since joint US-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah and several other leaders on February 28.
Iranian officials have acknowledged the injury to Mojtaba, but not shared any further detail.
Hegseth provided an update on the air campaign against Iran, stating that US and Israeli forces have hit over 15,000 targets over two weeks.
“Between our air force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That’s well over 1,000 a day,” Hegseth said.
He warned that Friday would feature the highest number of strikes yet.
On naval threats, Hegseth dismissed reports of Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for one-fifth of the world’s oil. Earlier this week, some news outlets reported Iran had placed about a dozen mines there.
Asked about the possibility of mines in the Strait, Hegseth said: “We’ve heard them talk about it just like you’ve reported recklessly and wildly about it. But … we have no clear evidence of that.”
Hegseth stressed that the US would not let Iran disrupt shipping in the strait.
He also addressed a controversial strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran, and confirmed that US Central Command (CENTCOM) has tasked an independent general officer with a full probe.
“I can report that CENTCOM has designated an investigating officer to complete a command investigation. The command investigation will take as long as necessary to address all the matters surrounding this incident. And the investigating officer is from outside CENTCOM and is a general officer,” Hegseth said.
