Hegseth claims Iran's new supreme leader is "wounded and likely disfigured"

"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. Iran has plenty of cameras and voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. He is scared. He is injured. He is on the run."

"Nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender. Iran may not even know who is in charge."

"On Thursday, Khamenei issued his first public message, vowing that his country will take revenge for the ongoing U.S. and Israeli attacks. The message was read on Iranian state television without an accompanying video or photo of Khamenei."

U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Hegseth, assert that Iran's supreme leader is wounded, disfigured, and in hiding following ongoing U.S. and Israeli attacks. President Trump told G7 leaders that the leader is in poor health and that no one can announce surrender due to unclear command authority. The supreme leader issued only a written statement vowing revenge, without video or audio appearance. Hegseth interpreted the written-only message as evidence of weakness and injury, questioning who actually leads Iran. The lack of public appearance fuels speculation about the leadership's stability and operational capacity.

Read at Axios