- By Aditya Jha
- Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:16 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran War 2026: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday dismissed the reports suggesting that Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was severely injured and disfigured. In a TV interview, Araqchi asserted that there are no issues with Mojtaba's health. His clarification came after a senior US official claimed that the new supreme leader got injured in a US attack earlier on February 28. Araqchi also stated that Iran will intensify its attacks in the upcoming days if the US does not stop attacking its energy sites.
Earlier on Friday, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Mojtaba was "wounded and likely disfigured", further questioning why he has not released any video statement yet. "We know the new so-called (not-so) Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured. 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," Hegseth said.
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He also alleged that Mojtaba was scared, adding that the supreme leader lacked legitimacy. "Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. His father's dead. He's scared. He's injured. He's on the run. And he lacks legitimacy. It's a mess for them. Who's in charge? Iran may not even know," he added.
In a recent development, US launched a precision attack on Iran's Kharg Island, destroying its several military sites. However, US President Donald Trump assured that the oil facilities were not attacked. Araqchi also asserted that Tehran will intensify the attacks if Iran's facilities will be targeted.
"If Iranian facilities are targeted, our forces will strike facilities of American companies in the region or companies in which the United States has shares,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by the YCJ news agency. The war between Iran and the joint forces of Israel and the US entered its 15th day, with no signs of slowing down.