What rats do’: US says Iranian leaders hiding as leaders appear in Tehran

In March 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iranian leaders were "desperate and hiding" following U.S.-Israeli strikes. This statement was made by Hegseth in the United States. However, news reports from Tehran showed Iranian President and Foreign Minister participating in Quds Day rallies. The article highlights a potential contradiction between the U.S. assessment of the Iranian leadership's behavior and their public appearances in Tehran. The article does not specify the reason for the U.S. strikes. The article's purpose is to report on the conflicting narratives surrounding the Iranian leadership's actions.