‘Not So Supreme’: Hegseth Confirms Khamenei Is ‘Likely Disfigured’ And Lacks Legitimacy In Iran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted Iran’s new strongman Friday, mocking Mojtaba Khamenei as a wounded pretender who “lacks legitimacy” as the U.S. ramps up its aerial assault on the Islamic Republic.

Hegseth’s remarks came a day after Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a written statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the war ends and demanding that U.S. military bases be removed from Gulf nations.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth tore into Iran’s new leadership, suggesting Khamenei is hiding while trying to project strength.

“Iran’s leadership is in no better shape. Desperate and hiding, they’ve gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do. We know the new so-called not-so-Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said Friday at the Pentagon. “He put out a statement yesterday. A weak one, actually, but there was no voice. And there was no video. It was a written statement.”

“He called for unity, apparently killing tens of thousands of protesters is his kind of unity. Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy,” Hegseth added.

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Hegseth also revealed the U.S. military is shifting tactics as Operation Epic Fury continues, relying less on long-range missile launches and more on direct overhead strikes against Iranian targets.

“I can say… only 1% of the munitions we’re using today are standoff munitions. The rest are over the top, the types of which we have a plethora, which was which is our goal from the beginning,” he said. “You use standoff, which are more exquisite. You transition to a much larger magazine depth, ensuring that you preserving all the capabilities you have and your options across the force.”

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The defense secretary said the bombing campaign is escalating rapidly, with Friday expected to mark the largest wave of strikes yet.

Hegseth made the remark after saying that “today will be yet again the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran.”

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