Mojtaba Khamenei
Despite injury reports placing him in a coma, new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei threatens revenge and Hormuz blockade in first statement. ​ Firstpost / Youtube

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has made a striking claim that Iran's recently appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was seriously wounded and is 'likely disfigured' as a result of recent military strikes.

Hegseth's comments, delivered at a Pentagon briefing, pointed to the absence of any video or audio of Khamenei since taking power on 8 March 2026. According to People, he suggested that Iran's new ruler may be struggling to govern from behind the scenes.

Iranian officials are dismissing the suggestion of serious injury and insist he remains in charge despite recent attacks from the US.

Why Hegseth Believes Mojtaba is Injured

One of the main reasons Hegseth and other US officials have raised the possibility of injuries is that Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly in video or audio since becoming the supreme leader on 8 March 2026.

Instead, his first statement was delivered only as a written text read on state television, with no video or voice message from him. Hegseth questioned this absence, suggesting it could signal that something is physically wrong.

The joint US–Israeli strikes that killed Mojtaba's father, the previous supreme leader Ali Khamenei, also reportedly killed Mojtaba's wife and other close family members in the same attack. While details about Mojtaba's own condition were not independently confirmed, the fact that he was in the strike zone is part of why US officials believe he may have been hurt.

Since the conflict began, US and Israeli forces have conducted thousands of airstrikes inside Iran and targeted key military infrastructure and leaders.

Tehran Rejects Claims, Insists Leader Is Active

However, no credible public source has confirmed that Mojtaba had been physically disfigured. The claim remains a US military speculation based on an interpretation of Iran's behaviour.

Iranian authorities have responded to the US allegations with a firm rejection. A senior official told outlets that Khamenei was indeed injured but emphasised he was only lightly wounded and continued to perform his duties.

The official's statement suggests that Tehran wants both domestic and international audiences to view its leadership as intact and functional, even amid heavy bombardment.

However, the Iranian government has released no recent images of Khamenei, feeding speculation abroad about his health and whereabouts.

Why Iranian State Media is Limiting Information on the New Supreme Leader

Iranian state media is keeping details about the new supreme leader very limited on purpose.

After his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israel strike, the leadership change became a very sensitive issue. By only sharing written statements instead of photos or videos, the government can control what people see and avoid rumours about Mojtaba's health or authority.

This also makes it harder for other countries or critics to judge how strong or capable he is. Iran has a history of tightly controlling access to its top leaders, making sure the public sees them in a controlled way to protect their image.

Right now, the government is using the same strategy to show stability and avoid panic while the new leader settles in, even though many outside observers are left guessing.

Whether Iran's supreme leader is healthy, injured, or fully in charge matters a lot beyond Iran itself. Uncertainty about his condition can affect how the government works, how the military makes decisions, and how other countries negotiate with Tehran.

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