Iranian supreme leader ‘wounded,’ ‘likely disfigured’: claims Hegseth

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Friday (March 13, 2026) he believes Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded.

“We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Mr. Hegseth told a press conference.

Mr. Khamenei issued a written statement on Thursday (March 12, 2026) but has remained in hiding since taking over from his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in bombing at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on February 28.

Iranian officials have confirmed the new leader is wounded but have given no further detail.

On strike on school in Iran’s Minab

The United ​States has designated ⁠an officer outside of U.S. Central Command to complete ‌an investigation on a strike on ‌an Iranian ‌school, ⁠Mr. Hegseth said on Friday (March 13, 2026).

“I can report that CENTCOM has ​designated ‌an investigating officer to complete a command investigation,” Mr. Hegseth told a press briefing.

Reuters ‌first reported last ​week that an ongoing, internal U.S. military ⁠investigation showed U.S. forces were likely responsible ‌for the strike on the girls’ school in southern Iran.

“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,” ‌Mr. Hegseth said.

(With inputs from Reuters)