Iran claims US suffered ‘humiliating defeat’

Summary

• The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, has described the United States’ confrontation with Iran as a major setback for Washington.
• According to reports citing US officials, Washington has deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect critical energy infrastructure.
• Iran also criticised what it described as US sanctions disrupting its regional trade and transport links.

AI Generated Summary

The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, has described the United States’ confrontation with Iran as a major setback for Washington.

Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran, Qaani claimed that the US had been pushed out of Iraq despite its military capabilities. He said Washington had initially expected Iran to surrender within days or a few weeks but instead faced a situation that differed sharply from its calculations.

Qaani also said that remaining US influence in the region should eventually be removed. He accused Washington of attempting to downplay its withdrawal from Iraq by focusing on secondary issues.

Meanwhile, the United States has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East amid concerns over a possible resumption of major operations against Iran.