Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 13, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 13, 2026
Hegseth: Mojtaba Khamenei ‘wounded and likely disfigured’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Iran’s new “so-called, not-so-supreme leader” Mojtaba Khamenei is “wounded and likely disfigured,” says US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of the Islamic Republic’s third leader, who was targeted in the same strikes that killed his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, at the opening of the US-Israeli campaign two weeks ago.
“Why a written statement?” asks Hegseth, after messages ostensibly from Khamenei emerged this week, but no footage. “I think you know why.”
“Who’s in charge?” he taunts.
Meanwhile, he says, the US will keep its foot on the gas. “No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.”
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