WANA (Sep 16) – Iranian Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Kioumars Heydari said Iranian missiles had recently targeted and seriously damaged U.S. warships and frigates, describing the claim as a major demonstration of Iran’s military capabilities.

 

“The peak of American military power is its navy and warships,” Heydari said. He claimed that no power had successfully challenged U.S. naval forces since World War II, but that Iranian missiles had struck heavy U.S. warships and frigates “a few nights ago,” causing serious damage.

 

Heydari also declared that Iran’s armed forces had emerged victorious from the ongoing conflict. He defined victory as the ability of a defending force to prevent an attacker from reaching its predetermined objectives at the time and place it has chosen.

 

According to Heydari, the United States and its allies entered the conflict seeking to fundamentally change Iran’s political system within a short period, but failed to achieve that objective. He said Iran’s armed forces were now directing the course of the conflict and that U.S. actions were increasingly responses to Iranian operations.

 

Five Pillars of Victory

Heydari attributed what he described as Iran’s battlefield successes to five main factors: divine assistance, the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the capabilities of Iran’s armed forces, public support, and the government’s support for the war effort.

 

He said Iran’s armed forces had reached the “cutting edge of technology” and were relying primarily on domestic capabilities. He also claimed that Iran had launched large numbers of missiles in response to enemy actions, which he said had surprised its opponents.

 

Heydari identified the Iranian public as the fourth pillar, praising people who he said had remained committed despite the pressures of the conflict. He named the government’s continued support and logistical backing as the fifth pillar.

 

Heydari Warns U.S. Forces

Heydari warned that continued U.S. involvement in the conflict would carry high costs for American forces. He said some U.S. personnel would return home aboard the same warships, while others could be killed in the waters of the region.

 

He further argued that U.S. naval forces represented the peak of Washington’s military power, but claimed that recent Iranian missile strikes had demonstrated Iran’s ability to challenge them.

 

Heydari said the alleged attacks prompted two reactions from the United States: increased activity in the Persian Gulf and efforts to increase the distance between U.S. forces and Iran to at least 500 kilometers.

 

He concluded by saying that continued Iranian military operations would further increase the distance between the two sides and, in his words, pave the way for what he described as a final victory.