Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:12pm on 13 Mar 2026,Friday International
A sharp war of words erupted between Iran and the United States after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iranian leaders were “hiding like rats” amid ongoing strikes. Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani rejected the claim and mocked US leadership, saying Iranian leaders were among the public while American leaders were “on Epstein’s island.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was seen attending the annual Al Quds Day march in Tehran during the conflict. The exchange highlights escalating rhetoric as the war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance continues to intensify.
