By Elsie Kamsiyochi
The health and leadership of Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, , have come under increasing scrutiny after U.S. officials said he was wounded and possibly disfigured during recent military strikes tied to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary said the Iranian leader’s injuries raise serious doubts about his ability to effectively govern the country during a period of intense warfare and political instability.
According to Hegseth, Khamenei has not been seen publicly since an early Israeli strike at the beginning of the war. That attack reportedly killed several members of his family, including his father — the longtime Iranian leader — as well as his wife.
“No video, no voice recording — only a written statement,” Hegseth told reporters. “Iran has cameras everywhere. The fact that he hasn’t appeared publicly suggests the situation may be far worse than they are admitting.”
Questions Over Leadership and Legitimacy
The only communication attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei since the start of the war was a written statement broadcast by Iranian state television on Thursday. In that message, the new leader vowed to keep the closed, a move that could severely disrupt global oil shipments and escalate tensions with Western powers.
He also warned neighboring countries hosting U.S. military bases that they could become targets if they continue to support American operations in the region.
U.S. officials, however, argue that the absence of a recorded message or appearance may indicate that the Iranian leader’s injuries are more serious than publicly acknowledged.
An Iranian official previously told Reuters that Mojtaba Khamenei was only lightly wounded and remained in control of government operations. Iranian state television has described him as “war-wounded” but provided no further details.
Intensifying Military Campaign
During the briefing, Hegseth was joined by , who outlined the scale of the ongoing U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
According to U.S. officials, American forces have carried out strikes against more than 6,000 targets inside Iran over the past two weeks. The campaign has focused heavily on Iran’s missile production facilities, drone launch sites, naval assets, and other strategic military capabilities.
The strikes are part of a joint U.S.-Israeli effort launched after escalating tensions erupted into open conflict on February 28.
The bombing campaign has had a devastating human cost. Iranian officials and independent estimates suggest that nearly 2,000 people have been killed in the attacks so far.
“No Mercy” Warning Sparks Concern
Hegseth’s rhetoric during the briefing also drew attention. The defense secretary said the United States would continue pressing its offensive with relentless force.
“We will keep advancing,” he said. “No quarter, no mercy for our enemy.”
The phrase “no quarter” historically refers to refusing surrender and sparing no combatants — a concept widely condemned under modern international law. Organizations such as the say such tactics violate international humanitarian rules that govern armed conflict.
Military Justice Shake-Up
At the same time, Hegseth has begun reshaping the U.S. military’s legal leadership. He recently replaced the judge advocates general — the top military lawyers — for the Army, Navy, and Air Force in a move seen by some analysts as an effort to tighten control over legal oversight during wartime operations.
Regional Tensions Continue to Spread
Despite heavy bombardment of Iranian military facilities, regional security threats remain high.
Reports indicate that Iranian drones have been detected flying into several neighboring countries, including , , , , and , raising fears that the conflict could expand across the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed that six U.S. service members were killed on Friday when a military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq. Officials said the incident involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
Since the war began nearly two weeks ago, 11 American troops have died, highlighting the growing human toll on both sides.
Reinforcements Headed to the Middle East
A U.S. official also confirmed that the Pentagon is sending another warship and additional Marines to the Middle East as part of a broader military buildup aimed at maintaining pressure on Iran and protecting U.S. forces and allies in the region.
With the conflict intensifying and Iran’s leadership potentially weakened, analysts warn that the coming weeks could prove critical in determining whether the war stabilizes — or expands further across the Middle East.
Source Reuters
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