WANA (Mar 12) – Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the Iran–Iraq War, said that more than 20,000 U.S. officers and soldiers have withdrawn from West Asia and returned to their bases in Europe amid the recent regional conflict.

 

Speaking in a televised interview, Rezaei described the withdrawal as one of the signs of the opposing side’s failure in what he called the recent imposed war. He said indications of the enemy’s setback became evident in the early days of the confrontation.

 

According to Rezaei, retreat is the most important sign of defeat for a force that launches an attack but fails to achieve its objectives. He added that the main goals of the opposing side—including weakening the Islamic Republic and opening a path for influence in the Persian Gulf—were not achieved.

 

He said that following these setbacks, the attacking forces were forced to withdraw to distances of up to about 1,000 kilometers.

 

The former IRGC commander also cited what he described as the “flight of enemy forces from the region” as another sign of defeat. Referring to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, Rezaei said Trump had initially spoken about the withdrawal of 9,000 American personnel from the region during the first days of the conflict, but he believes the actual number exceeded 20,000.

 

In another part of his remarks, Rezaei rejected claims of a U.S. victory, saying American military officials themselves have not presented concrete achievements from the conflict and that such claims appear largely propagandistic.

 

He also addressed Iran’s missile capabilities, saying that contrary to some claims, Iran’s arsenal has not been depleted. He added that after the 12-day war, several weapons systems were rapidly upgraded.

 

Rezaei stated that the longer the conflict continues, the greater Iran’s military capabilities will become, while emphasizing that the enemy should not be underestimated and that the country must remain prepared for various possible scenarios.

 

He also highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a key point in the regional balance of power. According to Rezaei, the waterway falls within Iran’s sphere of influence in terms of geography and military capability, and Iran’s armed forces have the capacity to control developments there.

 

The Expediency Council member further said that the United States has made strategic miscalculations by failing to properly assess Iran’s capabilities as well as the characteristics of the Iranian people and their style of warfare.

 

Rezaei concluded by praising the efforts of Iran’s armed forces and security personnel, thanking them for their role in maintaining security and defending the country under difficult conditions.