Pentagon Drops Bombshell on Mojtaba Khamenei’s Condition as Operation Epic Fury Enters Day 14
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a stunning revelation Friday at the Pentagon: Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been “wounded and likely disfigured” during Operation Epic Fury — the U.S.-led military campaign that has now been pounding Iran for two straight weeks.
“The new so-called, not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured,” Hegseth said during a press briefing alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. He did not elaborate on when or how Khamenei was injured, but multiple sources have confirmed the claim.
Vice President JD Vance backed up the claim hours later, telling CBS News in North Carolina: “We know he’s hurt. We don’t know the full extent of his injuries.”
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28. He issued his first public statement Thursday — but notably appeared only in text, with no video or audio. President Trump told Fox Radio’s Brian Kilmeade Show that he believes Khamenei is “damaged” but “probably alive in some form.”
Iran’s ambassador to Cyprus earlier confirmed that Mojtaba was wounded in the same strike that killed his father, and Iranian presidential adviser Yousef Pezeshkian had acknowledged the injury on Telegram.
US Strikes Hit Pro-Government Al-Quds Day Rally in Tehran
In one of the most dramatic developments of the conflict, U.S. strikes hit near a massive pro-government demonstration in Tehran on Friday. Thousands of Iranians had taken to the streets for the annual Al-Quds Day rally — a show of solidarity with Palestinians — when explosions rocked the capital.
The Israeli Defense Forces simultaneously announced they had launched a “massive wave of strikes” against Iranian infrastructure across Tehran. Residents reported heavy explosions throughout the city. Rescue workers were photographed carrying severely injured civilians from rubble in southern Tehran.
Iran’s UN representative told the Security Council that more than 1,348 civilians have been killed since the war began on February 28.
2,500 Marines Deploy as 50,000 Troops Now Support Operation
The Pentagon confirmed Friday that an additional 2,500 Marines are being sent to the Middle East, along with additional warships — a clear signal that the U.S. is preparing for an extended campaign rather than winding down.
The Department of War’s weekly update revealed that more than 50,000 U.S. service members are now supporting Operation Epic Fury across the region. CENTCOM has attacked more than 6,000 targets since the operation began, with strike packages launching every hour around the clock.
Approximately 200 U.S. service members have been wounded over the two weeks of sustained combat, though military officials say the vast majority of injuries have been minor, with nearly 170 already returned to duty. Ten service members remain listed as seriously wounded. All six crew members from a KC-135 refueling tanker that crashed in Iraq on March 12 have been confirmed dead — the single deadliest incident for U.S. forces in the conflict.
Iran’s Military Capability ‘Decimated’ — But Hormuz Remains a Flashpoint
Hegseth painted a picture of an Iranian military in freefall. “Iran has no air defenses. Iran has no air force. Iran has no navy. Their missiles, their missile launchers and drones are being destroyed or shot out of the sky,” he declared.
The numbers back him up: Iranian missile volume is down 90%, and one-way attack drone launches have plummeted 95% compared to the war’s early days — when Iran unleashed more than 2,000 drones and 500 ballistic missiles in retaliatory strikes.
But the Strait of Hormuz remains the conflict’s most dangerous pressure point. CENTCOM has destroyed over 30 Iranian minelaying ships and targeted naval mine warehouses and manufacturing facilities. Iran has deployed fewer than 10 naval mines so far, relying instead on unmanned surface vessels and drones to threaten commercial shipping — tactics designed to cause economic disruption while avoiding the consequences of a full mining campaign.
Gen. Caine confirmed the strait remains a top priority: “We continue to attack those efforts, and we continue to make progress on the industrial base, including factories and weapons warehouses.”
Oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel Friday, driven by anxiety over Hormuz. In a startling development, CNN reported that Iran is considering allowing oil tankers through the strait — but only if trade is conducted in Chinese yuan, a move that would represent a seismic shift in global energy markets.
Iran Strikes Back: Dubai Financial Center Hit, Gulf States Under Fire
Despite its degraded capabilities, Iran continues to lash out. An Iranian missile struck the Dubai Financial Center on March 13, according to geolocated footage analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Iran has launched five separate missile barrages targeting Gulf countries that host U.S. military assets and troops.
Oil tankers have been hit in Iraqi waters, with massive fires reported on at least two vessels. Hezbollah has vowed an “existential” fight, and Israel is intensifying strikes against the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon.
The International Energy Agency has agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of crude oil in response to supply disruptions — the largest coordinated release in history.
What Comes Next?
Hegseth made clear the operation is far from over. “Today will be, yet again, the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran. The number of sorties and number of bomber pulses the highest yet — ramping up and only up,” he said.
Trump told reporters to “watch what happens” with Iran today, while Germany’s Chancellor Merz called for a “convincing plan” for how to end the war. The U.S. State Department has offered a $10 million reward — though for what target remains unclear.
With over 50,000 troops engaged, Iran’s new leader reportedly disfigured and in hiding, the Strait of Hormuz partially closed, and oil prices spiking, Operation Epic Fury has already reshaped the Middle East. The question now: how does it end?
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.