U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated on Friday, March 13, 2026, he believes Iran’s new Supreme Chief Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated on Friday (March 13, 2026) he believes Iran’s new Supreme Chief Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded.
“We all know the brand new so-called, not-so-supreme chief is wounded and sure disfigured,” Mr. Hegseth instructed a press convention.
Mr. Khamenei issued a written assertion on Thursday (March 12, 2026) however has remained in hiding since taking up from his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in bombing firstly of the U.S.-Israeli warfare towards Iran on February 28.
Iranian officers have confirmed the brand new chief is wounded however have given no additional element.
The USA and Israel have struck greater than 15,000 targets for the reason that begin of the Iran warfare late final month, Mr. Hegseth stated.
“Between our air pressure and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck. That’s effectively over 1,000 a day,” Mr. Hegseth instructed through the press convention, including that Friday (March 13, 2026) would mark the very best quantity of strikes but within the marketing campaign.
On Strait of Hormuz closure
There is no such thing as a clear proof that Iran has positioned mines within the Strait of Hormuz, Mr. Hegseth instructed including that U.S. won’t permit delivery in the Strait of Hormuz to be contested by Iran.
The evaluation by Mr. Hegseth contrasts with information reviews earlier this week suggesting Iran had deployed a couple of dozen mines within the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil.
Requested concerning the chance of mines within the Strait, Mr. Hegseth stated: “We’ve heard them speak about it identical to you’ve reported recklessly and wildly about it. However … now we have no clear proof of that.”
Mr. Hegseth’s feedback come as america and different international locations face spiking oil and fuel costs with the usIsrael warfare coming into its 14th day, with oil costs hovering close to $100 a barrel on Friday (March 13, 2026).
On strike on college in Iran’s Minab
The United States has designated an officer exterior of U.S. Central Command to finish an investigation on a strike on an Iranian college, Mr. Hegseth stated on Friday (March 13, 2026).
“I can report that CENTCOM has designated an investigating officer to finish a command investigation,” Mr. Hegseth instructed a press briefing.
Reuters first reported final week that an ongoing, inner U.S. navy investigation confirmed U.S. forces have been possible accountable for the strike on the ladies’ college in southern Iran.
“The command investigation will take so long as obligatory to deal with all of the issues surrounding this incident. And the investigating officer is from exterior CENTCOM and is a common officer,” Mr. Hegseth stated.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Revealed – March 13, 2026 06:21 pm IST