{"id":2579434,"date":"2026-03-13T09:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-pours-doubt-on-ability-of-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T09:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:29:17","slug":"hegseth-pours-doubt-on-ability-of-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-pours-doubt-on-ability-of-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth pours doubt on ability of new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhegseth-pours-doubt-on-ability-of-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2579434&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports that Pete Hegseth, during a Pentagon briefing, amplified doubts about Iran\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ayatollah-iran-in-no-hurry-to-see-u-s-return-to-nuclear-deal\/\" title=\"Ayatollah: Iran in no hurry to see U.S. return to nuclear deal\">supreme leader<\/a>, ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, aligning with Donald Trump\u2019s prior remarks about Iran\u2019s leadership. It states the U.S. has degraded Iran\u2019s capabilities and notes there are no clear signs that Khamenei is alive or in control. Hegseth describes Iran\u2019s leadership as desperate and hiding, suggesting Khamenei is wounded or disfigured, and he criticizes Khamenei\u2019s first written statement as weak. He questions who is actually running the country, arguing the government is barely able to communicate or coordinate amid the U.S.-Israeli pressure campaign.Trump is reported as <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >offering similar uncertainty<\/a> about Khamenei\u2019s status while implying that the war in Iran could still shape voter concerns. The piece portrays Khamenei as an opaque figure with little public footage,fueling speculation about his whereabouts and the leadership\u2019s legitimacy,and it references related stories and paywalled content for broader context.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hegseth pours doubt on ability of new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2530901\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>War Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> echoed President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> comments, doubting Iran&rsquo;s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, can lead the country.<\/p>\n<p>In a Pentagon press briefing on Friday morning, Hegseth boasted of the U.S.&rsquo;s degradation of Iran&rsquo;s capabilities, specifically targeting the confusion around the lack of signs of life from Khamenei.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4490851\/watch-live-hegseth-caine-update-iran-war-iraq-refueler-crash\/\">WATCH LIVE: Hegseth and Caine give update on Iran war after refueler crash<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4489085\/iran-war-harbinger-future-artificial-intelligence-powered-warfare\/\">Iran war is a harbinger of future AI-powered warfare&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-on-defense\/4490790\/can-trump-simply-declare-victory-and-walk-away-from-the-iran-war-not-yet\/\">Can Trump simply declare victory and walk away from the Iran war? Not yet!<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Iran&rsquo;s leadership is in no better shape, desperate and hiding. They&rsquo;ve gone underground, cowering. That&rsquo;s what rats do,&rdquo; Hegseth said. &ldquo;We know the new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He noted that Khamenei put out his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4489443\/mojtaba-khamenei-first-statement-not-on-camera\/\">first statement as leader<\/a> on Thursday, but only a written one that was read on state TV. Hegseth derided the inaugural statement as &ldquo;a weak one, actually.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why? His father&rsquo;s dead, he&rsquo;s scared, he&rsquo;s injured, he&rsquo;s on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It&rsquo;s a mess for them,&rdquo; Hegseth continued.<\/p>\n<p>He questioned who was actually running Iran, and said the government was &ldquo;barely&rdquo; able to communicate, &ldquo;let alone coordinate,&rdquo; due to the U.S.-Israeli onslaught.<\/p>\n<p>Trump gave similar details on Thursday, indicating that U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-dont-need-the-durham-annex-to-know-hillary-set-up-trump\/\" title=\"We Don&#039;t Need The Durham Annex To Know Hillary Set Up ...\">intelligence wasn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t even completely sure he was alive.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/economy\/4489545\/trump-iran-war-override-voter-concern-oil-price\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4489545\">TRUMP GAMBLES QUICK, VICTORIOUS WAR WITH IRAN WILL OVERRIDE VOTER CONCERNS ON OIL PRICES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think he probably is,&rdquo; he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FoxNews\/status\/2032273819100967323?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FoxNews\/status\/2032273819100967323?s=20\">told<\/a> Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade when asked if he thought the new supreme leader was alive. &ldquo;I think he&rsquo;s damaged, but I think he&rsquo;s probably alive in some form.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Khamenei is an opaque figure, with almost no footage existing of him, in stark contrast to his media-savvy father. Speculation around his whereabouts and the process by which he was selected is rife, with reports circulating that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pushed his appointment through despite lacking the typical qualifications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth questions Khamenei&#8217;s ability to lead Iran<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2579435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-4mhgfl183-1773406432043-e1773406784137.jpg?1773392126&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[75716,75417,71172,73936],"class_list":["post-2579434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-iran-politics-2","tag-mojtaba-khamenei-2","tag-pete-hegseth-2","tag-supreme-leader-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-4mhgfl183-1773406432043-e1773406784137.jpg?1773392126&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579434"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579438,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579434\/revisions\/2579438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2579435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}