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Hegseth Claims Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei Is Wounded and Likely Disfigured
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is wounded and likely disfigured, according to Axios on March 13.
Axios reported that this was the Donald Trump administration’s first official public comment on Khamenei’s health since he was named supreme leader.
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Hegseth pointed to Khamenei’s first public statement on Thursday as support for his claim.
The statement was read on Iranian state television without a video or photo of Khamenei.
“Iran has plenty of cameras and voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why,” Hegseth told reporters, according to Axios.
Axios also reported that Trump told Group of Seven (G7) leaders in a virtual meeting on Wednesday that Khaemenei “is not in good shape,” citing a source with knowledge of the call.
The outlet noted that Khamenei had vowed revenge for ongoing US and Israeli attacks in his written statement. Hegseth argued that the statement's format showed weakness and uncertainty within Iran’s leadership.
In the statement, Khamenei also outlined Iran’s stance as tensions with the United States and Israel intensified.
In this first address, the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz blocked and continue attacks on US bases as the confrontation with the United States and Israel escalates.
The statement, disseminated through Iranian state media rather than delivered publicly, also threatened to open additional “fronts” if the war continues, while framing Iran’s actions as retaliation for strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites.
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