Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded, and "likely disfigured."

Hegseth did not elaborate on or provide evidence regarding Khamenei's condition, The Associated Press reported.

Khamenei was appointed Iran's new supreme leader after his father was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes last month, but has not been seen publicly since.

The new supreme leader released his first public statement on Thursday through an Iranian state TV news anchor, vowing to continue fighting and going after Gulf Arab states with U.S. bases.