US Defense Secretary announces escalation against Iran and updates investigation status

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the Iranian leadership is currently in hiding. He reported that the new Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has sustained injuries that may have resulted in permanent disfigurement. Hegseth announced that the United States plans to conduct a major series of strikes against Iranian defense industries this Friday. Regarding the investigation into an attack on a girls' school in southern Iran, the Secretary confirmed the appointment of an officer from outside the Central Command (CENTCOM) to oversee the process. While Reuters previously reported that internal US military assessments suggest American forces may be responsible for the strike, Hegseth emphasized that the new inquiry will proceed until all issues are resolved. The timeline for the investigation remains open-ended to ensure a thorough examination of the incident.