Iran Declares Victory and Rejects US Diplomacy as Ceasefire Takes Hold
Executive Summary
Following a devastating 12-day war, Iran’s leadership is celebrating what it calls a decisive military and moral victory over both Israel and the United States. As Tehran hardens its posture, ruling out further negotiations and elevating its anti-Western rhetoric, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and President Pezeshkian frame the conflict as a transformative national triumph and a warning to adversaries.
Analysis
Iran’s government has unleashed a sweeping campaign of nationalistic celebration and rhetorical defiance after the conclusion of the war with Israel and the United States. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a dramatic communique declaring the conflict — dubbed the “12-day sacred defense epic” — a righteous war sparked by Zionist aggression and concluded with overwhelming Iranian retaliation under “Operation True Promise III.”
The IRGC emphasized 22 waves of missile attacks on Israeli military targets and a significant retaliatory strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, portraying these actions as devastating victories. The IRGC hailed the sacrifice of its fallen commanders, including top figures like General Salami and General Hajizadeh, and reaffirmed its commitment to expelling U.S. forces from the region and annihilating the Israeli state.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei reinforced this narrative in a televised address, calling the war a “glorious victory” over both the “fake Zionist regime” and the United States. He praised Iran’s capacity to breach Israeli air defenses and attack American military facilities, warning that further aggression would provoke equally harsh responses. Khamenei dismissed U.S. President Trump’s claim that Iran would surrender, calling it “a joke” and underscoring the deep cultural and historical pride of the Iranian people.
Diplomatically, Tehran has taken a hard turn away from engagement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi categorically denied any plans to resume nuclear talks with the U.S., citing American complicity in Israel’s war of aggression and labeling the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as acts of betrayal. Araqchi asserted that no negotiations have been discussed and that conditions are not conducive to dialogue.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, addressing the Eurasian Economic Union summit, framed Iran’s counterattacks as legitimate under Article 51 of the UN Charter. He accused both Israel and the U.S. of war crimes against civilians and condemned international inaction. Pezeshkian warned that had Iran not responded forcefully, a full-scale regional war might have erupted. He used the summit to push for a shift away from appeasement toward Israel and to deepen regional economic and political alliances — particularly through the Iran-EAEU free trade agreement.
This unified front projects strength to both domestic and international audiences. Iran’s leaders have leveraged the war to consolidate power, galvanize nationalist sentiment, and boost their strategic posture in global diplomacy. At the same time, the regime’s refusal to reengage with the U.S. and its emphasis on expanding alliances within Eurasian and anti-Western blocs suggests a sustained realignment away from Western engagement and toward multipolar resistance.
