The US said the new Supreme Leader of Iran could be seriously injured

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on March 13 during a press conference at the Pentagon that Iran’s leadership had been “severely weakened” by the US and Israeli campaign. “We know this person they call the ‘supreme leader’ is injured and is likely to be disfigured,” Mr. Hegseth said.

The US minister also expressed skepticism about Mr. Mojtaba’s first message since taking office, which was read on Iranian state television, without video or voice.

“Iran has so many cameras and recorders, why does it need a written statement? I think you know the reason,” Mr. Hegseth said.

US President Donald Trump also previously said that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba “was injured but still alive”.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts on March 8 announced the selection of Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Supreme Leader to succeed his father. Mr. Khamenei was killed when the US and Israel on February 28 launched an airstrike campaign against Iranian military and political targets.

How Iran builds a religious image for its new Supreme Leader

Iranian state television called Mr. Mojtaba Jaanbaz (wounded soldier) in the Ramadan war, referring to the US-Israel campaign, but did not specify the condition of his wound. Alireza Salarian, Iranian Ambassador to Cyprus, told Guardian that Mr. Mojtaba Khamenei was injured in his legs, arms and hands in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28.

Mr. Mojtaba has not appeared publicly in recent days. In a message published on March 12, the new Supreme Leader of Iran affirmed that the country will continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz “if the fighting continues and we consider it an appropriate action”.