US’s Hegseth claims new Iran Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei injured - Al Jazeera
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Defense Secretary Hegseth claims Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been injured.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been injured, according to Al Jazeera reporting. No details were provided about the nature of the alleged injuries or their verification.
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National SecurityHegseth claims Iran's new supreme leader is "wounded and likely disfigured"
<p>Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran's new supreme leader, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/mojtaba-khamenei-iran-supreme-leader" target="_blank">Mojtaba Khamenei</a>, is "wounded and likely disfigured."</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> Hegseth's claim was the first official statement by the Trump administration about Khamenei's health since he was named the country's leader.</p><hr><ul><li>"Iran's leadership is in no better shape. Desperate and hiding they have gone underground, cowering. That's what rats do. We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured," Hegseth told reporters at a briefing.</li></ul><p><strong>Behind the scenes:</strong> President Trump told G7 leaders in a virtual meeting on Wednesday that Khamenei "is not in good shape," according to a source with knowledge of the call.</p><ul><li>"Nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender," <a href="https://www.axios.c...
GlobalIran's new supreme leader injured in strikes which killed his father
Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the US-Israeli airstrikes which killed his father.
GlobalIran's new supreme leader 'likely disfigured', US defence chief says
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and "likely disfigured", casting doubt on his ability to lead after nearly two weeks of conflict.
GlobalN Korea ‘respects’ Iran’s selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader
North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemns the US and Israel's 'unlawful military attack against Iran'.
National SecurityU.S. intel shows Iran's late leader was wary of son in power, sources say
U.S. intelligence has circulated to President Trump's inner circle that Iran's late supreme leader had misgivings about his son replacing him, viewing Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei as not very bright.
GlobalIranian exile factions vie for US leaders’ blessing to lead Iran
<p>Maga world figures throw weight behind Maryam Rajavi, MEK’s leader, and Reza Pahlavi, the son of last Shah of Iran</p><p>As a US battle group steamed to the Gulf in November 2002, competing Iraqi exiles, some championed by American insiders, jockeyed for position in the hopes of taking charge once George W Bush toppled Saddam Hussein. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2002-12-29/iraqs-unruly-opposition">Bloomberg</a> dubbed them “Iraq’s unruly opposition”.</p><p>The most notorious Iraqi exile, failed former banker Ahmad Chalabi, boasted to his neoconservative allies that his return to Baghdad would be welcomed by cheering throngs. Among his competition was a former doctor named Ayad Allawi, who was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2004/jul/23/guardianweekly.guardianweekly1">backed</a> by Britain’s MI6 and the Central Intelligence Agency in his bid for support to rule Iraq.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/11/iran-leaders-us-...
US-Israeli strike kills 15 at Isfahan factory, Iranian media says
Iranian media report the deaths in central Iran as Tehran launches new missile salvoes at Israeli targets.
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