Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses [Reuters Yonhap News]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses stated on the 13th (local time) that Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been injured and is likely disfigured.

Hegses said at a press briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain at the Pentagon on the same day, "We are aware that this newly emerging, so-called supreme leader, a person who cannot really be called 'supreme,' has been injured and is likely disfigured."

This is the first time a high-ranking U.S. government official has publicly confirmed the injury of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba was reportedly injured on the first day of attacks by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

According to a New York Times report on the 11th, three Iranian officials, who requested anonymity, told the NYT that "Mojtaba sustained injuries to his legs and other parts, but he is conscious."

Hegses pointed out, "He issued a statement yesterday, which was weak, and it had no audio or video. It was a written statement."

Hegses questioned, "Iran has many cameras and audio recording equipment. So why a written statement? Do you know why his father (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) died?" He then asserted, "He is scared, injured, on the run, and has no legitimacy."

When asked if Iran had planted mines to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, Hegses replied, "We have heard them say they would, but there is no clear evidence to date."

He emphasized, "The only factor currently blocking passage through the strait is that Iran is firing at (civilian) vessels," adding, "If there were no (such incidents), the strait would be navigable."

He continued, "We will not allow that strait to remain in a state of (military) conflict or to obstruct the flow of commercial logistics," and regarding the escort of merchant ships by the U.S. Navy, he stated, "We were planning it. It will be carried out sequentially in a reasonable manner."

Cain added that the attacks on merchant ships were Iranian surface-to-surface missiles, and stated, "No Iranian unmanned surface vessel (USV) activity has been detected in the (Persian) Gulf."

Hegses and Cain announced that the U.S. military would conduct its largest airstrikes against Iran since the start of the war that day.

Hegses said, "Today will be the largest scale of attacks conducted by the United States over Iranian airspace. The number of sorties and bombings will be the highest. Today's scale will be 20% larger than previous attack days."

Cain also stated, "Today will be the day with the most powerful physical strikes in the operational area."

They explained that the joint airstrikes by the U.S. and Israeli air forces have hit 15,000 targets since the start of the war, Iran's missile capabilities have decreased by 90%, and suicide drone attacks have decreased by 95%.

Hegses said, "More importantly, they no longer have the capability to produce weapons. Very soon, all Iranian defense industry companies will be destroyed."

He stated, "As of two days ago, the entire Iranian ballistic missile production facility, meaning all companies that manufacture parts for those missiles, have been neutralized. Their production lines, military factories, and defense innovation centers have all been neutralized."

Regarding Iran's plan to acquire enriched uranium, he replied, "We have various options, including Iran itself deciding to abandon it. However, we will not disclose to the world at this moment what we intend to do or how far we will go."

In response to a question about whether the attack on an Iranian elementary school was due to friendly fire, he said, "We do not target civilians. We will uncover the truth and disclose it once confirmed."

Meanwhile, regarding CNN's report that the U.S. was not prepared for Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Hegses called it a "fundamentally unserious report" and said, "The sooner David Ellison (CEO of Paramount SkyDance) acquires that broadcaster, the better."

Paramount SkyDance, led by Ellison, has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company.

Mojtaba Khamenei, elected as Iran's new supreme leader [AFP=Yonhap News]