Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "wounded and likely disfigured."
Why it matters: Hegseth's claim was the first official statement by the Trump administration about Khamenei's health since he was named the country's leader.
- "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.
Behind the scenes: 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.
- "Nobody knows who is the leader, so there is no one that can announce surrender," Trump said, according to two officials briefed on the call.
The latest: In an interview on Fox News Radio that aired on Friday morning Trump also claimed Khamenei is wounded.
- "I think he probably is [alive]. I think he is damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form, you know," Trump said.
Catch up quick: 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, who took over as supreme leader after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed at the outset of the war.
What he's saying: Hegseth cited the written statement as evidence of Khamenei's weakness.
- "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...Who is in charge? Iran may not even know," Hegseth said.
The big picture: Hegseth said Iran's missile launch capability has been reduced by 90% and its ability to launch drones was down 95% as of Thursday.
- He downplayed concerns about Iran's threat that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters that it was "something we're dealing with."
- Gen. Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran is preventing most commercial traffic through the Strait, but noted there is some moving through.
- "There's a reason why we chose as one of our primary objectives to destroy the Navy... That's not a strait we're going to allow to remain contested or with a lack of flow of commercial goods," Hegseth added.
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional information from Friday's briefing and Trump's comments from a separate interview.
