US Defense Secretary Claims Mojtaba Khamenei ‘Disfigured’ in Initial Strike as Leadership Crisis Grips Tehran

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims Mojtaba Khamenei was disfigured in recent strikes, questioning his ability to lead as US operations intensify.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 10:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel.

The Targeted Strike on the New Leadership

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has provided a startling assessment of the physical condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, the man recently elevated to replace his father as the leader of the Islamic Republic. According to Hegseth, the younger Khamenei was a direct target during the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes two weeks ago, the same operation that resulted in the death of the former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The Defense Secretary described the new leader as "wounded and likely disfigured," suggesting that the precision of the opening campaign has left the Iranian hierarchy physically and operationally compromised since the start of the conflict.

Questioning the Authenticity of Regime Communications

The Pentagon has cast significant doubt on the recent written messages purportedly issued by Mojtaba Khamenei, noting the conspicuous absence of any televised or recorded appearances. Hegseth questioned the regime's reliance on text-based communication, asking "Why a written statement?" and implying that the leader’s physical injuries prevent him from appearing before the public. This lack of visual proof has fueled Western intelligence assessments that the transition of power in Tehran is far more fractured than the Islamic Republic’s state media is willing to admit.

A Taunt to the Iranian Command Structure

In a pointed rhetorical attack, Hegseth challenged the transparency of the Iranian government, asking "Who’s in charge?" during a strategic briefing on the two-week-old campaign. The Defense Secretary’s taunts are aimed at undermining the morale of the Iranian military and civil service by suggesting that the "not-so-supreme leader" is incapacitated. This psychological warfare accompanies a period of extreme physical pressure on the regime, as the coalition seeks to exploit the perceived power vacuum at the highest levels of the Iranian state.