Hegseth says Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "wounded" and "likely disfigured" (as our international editor wrote earlier, we do not have proof this is the case).

Referring to a written statement from Mojtaba read aloud on Iranian state TV yesterday, Hegseth questions why there was no footage or audio of him.

"I think you know why," he adds.

The defence secretary says Motjaba is "scared" and "injured", claiming he is "on the run" and "lacks legitimacy".

Continuing, Hegseth says Iran has no air force, air defence, or navy, and that their missile launchers are being destroyed .

Iran's missile volume is down 90%, and their one-way attack drones down 95%, he adds.

"But it's not just that Iran doesn't have a functioning air force, or their entire navy is at the bottom of the Persian gulf, or their missile force is shrinking daily, even more importantly, they also don't have the ability to build more," he says.

He adds that very soon all of Iran's defence companies "will be destroyed".

"We're shooting down and destroying what missiles they have in stock, and more importantly, ensuring they have no ability to build any more."

Iran is exercising "sheer desperation" in the Strait of Hormuz - the world's busiest oil shipping channel - but that's "something we're dealing with", he says.

(Source: BBC)