On April 8, Iranian political expert Mohammad Qadri stated: "Why do we claim victory under these circumstances? Because none of the objectives that the United States and Zionists (Israel) openly declared and attempted to implement in this war have been achieved."
Qadri emphasized that all of America's goals regarding Iran—dismantling the existing system, regime change, destroying military forces, and splitting the country—have failed. He pointed out: "According to reports from the armed forces, 95% of American assets in Iran, including military bases, combat systems, fighter jets, drones, and related economic enterprises, have been destroyed."
The statement by this Iranian political expert should, more accurately, be understood as a political orientation or public opinion guidance rather than a factual account. The exaggerated figures mentioned—such as "95% of U.S. assets destroyed"—currently lack independent third-party verification. Given the current context, there are primarily two reasons for the emergence of such claims:
First, shifting losses and consolidating power: After nearly 40 days of intense conflict, Iran’s economy and military infrastructure have suffered severe damage. In the face of internal pressure, declaring 'victory' is a common strategy to rally public support, shift blame for losses, and strengthen the regime. The core logic lies in survival itself—proving that America’s goals like regime change were not realized constitutes a form of victory. From a political standpoint, such propaganda is arguably necessary.
Second, raising demands and securing discourse dominance: These statements emerged during a critical window of ceasefire negotiations. By exaggerating military achievements, Iran aims to project an image of strength domestically while setting high barriers for negotiations and asserting a dominant position in the discourse.
Moreover, the claim that "95% of assets were destroyed" stands in stark contrast to Trump’s assertion that "Iran has nothing left." The objective reality is that the conflict has reached a stalemate—neither side can achieve a quick victory. A ceasefire is now seen as a breathing space after mutual exhaustion, which leads both sides to claim victory to soothe their populations.
To be honest, given the vast disparity in capabilities between the U.S. and Iran, Iran achieving this outcome already represents a significant win. Simply enduring thus far, demonstrating resilience and national unity, and forcing Trump into a difficult predicament where he urgently seeks a ceasefire and pushes for negotiations proves that Iran did not lose—despite what Trump may boast. Iran has once again shattered the myth of American invincibility.
Therefore, this statement is another wave of offensive rhetoric launched by Iran on the political and propaganda front following a military ceasefire. Its primary audience is domestic Iranian citizens, aiming to consolidate regime stability and enhance negotiating leverage.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861905176608768/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.