▲ U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon near Washington on March 13, 2026. (Yonhap)

Pentagon-Iran operation

Hegseth says new Iranian supreme leader 'likely disfigured'

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and "likely disfigured," as the United States and Israel continue their campaign of strikes on the Islamic Republic.

On Thursday, the new Iranian leader issued a defiant message, vowing to continue using the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route, as a "lever" and avenge the "blood" of "martyrs" killed in the ongoing war that began on Feb. 28.

His message was read out by an anchor on state television, stoking speculation about his health status. It marked his first public message after he was announced earlier this week as the successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the U.S. military operation, called "Operation Epic Fury."

"Iran's leadership is in no better shape. Desperate and hiding, they've gone underground, cowering," Hegseth said. "You know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured."

He called Khamenei's statement "weak," raising a question about why he released just a written statement when Iran has "plenty of" cameras and voice recorders.

"His father's dead. He's scared. He's injured. He's on the run and he lacks legitimacy," he said. "Who's in charge? Iran may not even know."

The Pentagon chief also addressed growing concerns about disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which have recently caused an increase in oil prices, as he criticized Tehran for exercising "sheer desperation" in the waterway, which is responsible for about a fifth of the world's oil supply.

"We are dealing with it. We have been dealing with it, and don't need to worry about it," he said.

Asked why the U.S. military is not escorting ships through the strait when it claims air and naval superiority over Iran, Hegseth said the U.S. wants to do it "sequentially in a way that makes the most sense for what we want to achieve."

"The Strait of Hormuz is something we've paid attention to from the beginning, and the American people can rest assured we will ensure that our interests are protected," he said.

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