'Your Leaders Are On Epstein's Island': Iran Hits Back At Pete Hegseth's 'Hiding Like Rats' Remark

Last Updated:March 13, 2026, 22:19 IST

Hegseth remarked that Iran's leadership had gone underground, which is what "rats do", as Iran's president was seen in public during an annual protest march.

Iran’s national security chief on Friday hit back at US Defence Secretary for claiming that the Iranian leadership was “desperate and hiding", sharing visuals of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian walking among the public without any security during the Al Quds day march in Tehran amid the war.

During a media briefing on Friday, Hegseth remarked that Iran’s leadership were not in good shape. “Desperate and hiding, they have gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do," he added.

In response, Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Iranian Supreme Security Council, said, “Mr. Hegseth! Our leaders have been, and still are, among the people. But your leaders? On Epstein’s island!"

Thousands of people took part in an annual march held in solidarity with Palestinians as the US-Israeli attacks continued for the 14th day. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian was seen at the rally in Tehran, as well as Larijani and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The officials marched despite the risk of US-Israeli attacks, which have killed dozens of senior figures, including the supreme leader, since the war on Iran began on February 28. The president appeared to be moving through the crowd without a visible entourage, interacting with members of the public and stopping to take selfies with participants along the route.

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Protesters chanted “Death to Israel" and “Death to America" while carrying Iranian flags and images of Palestinian fighters, voicing support for groups battling the US and Israel, according to Al Jazeera. They also expressed solidarity with Palestinians.

Meanwhile, an explosion rocked the Tehran square where the protests were taking place, killing one woman. Larijani claimed that Israel was dropping bombs out of fear and was “running out of option."

ALSO READ: Khamenei’s Top Aide Says Trump ‘Does Not Understand’ Iran, Israel ‘Running Out Of Options’

Iran’s Supreme Leader ‘Disfigured’

Meanwhile, Hegseth said in his briefing that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been “wounded and likely disfigured," as he claimed that Iranian leadership has been severely weakened as a result of US military operations.

“We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured. He put out a statement yesterday, a weak one actually, but there was no voice and there was no video," the Defence Secretary said.

“Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders, why a written statement? I think you know why. His father, dead. He’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy. It’s a mess for them," he continued.

Mojtaba Khamenei made his first remarks on the war since the US-Israeli strikes killed his father, saying that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed and attacks on US bases in the Gulf countries would continue, as he promised revenge for the “blood of martyrs".

News world 'Your Leaders Are On Epstein's Island': Iran Hits Back At Pete Hegseth's 'Hiding Like Rats' Remark

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