WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States and Iran both claimed victory in their ongoing conflict on Wednesday, with President Donald Trump saying Tehran’s forces had been defeated, while Iranian officials insisted Washington had failed in its objectives, as diplomatic efforts to end the fighting appeared to gain momentum.
US President Donald Trump said the war against Iran “has been won,” claiming Iranian military capabilities have been “totally defeated” and “incapacitated.”
Speaking from the Oval Office, he stated that Washington had achieved key objectives, including preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and reshaping the country’s leadership structure.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: The war in Iran has been won.
The only one that likes to keep it going is the fake news. pic.twitter.com/pAYfeglpzJ
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 24, 2026
Trump also dismissed reports of continued fighting as “fake news,” describing remaining activity as limited “military operations” rather than an active war.
Iran Rejects US Claims
Iranian officials have strongly rejected the US narrative, instead describing the conflict as a failure for Washington.
Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said the United States had been “defeated” and was now seeking assistance from other countries to exit what he described as a “quagmire.”
🎥 سخنگوی قرارگاه مرکزی خاتمالانبیا خطاب به آمریکا: سطح خوددرگیریهایتان به مرحلۀ مذاکره خودتان با خودتان رسیده؟
اسم شکستتان را توافق نگذارید. نه خبری از سرمایهگذاریهایتان در منطقه خواهد بود و نه قیمت سابق انرژی و نفت را خواهید دید. pic.twitter.com/0Zjj8wXfZR
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) March 25, 2026
He said the US and its allies initiated the conflict to destabilise Iran, but miscalculated the country’s response. According to Abdollahi, Iranian forces, backed by public support, have resisted the campaign and are “advancing toward ultimate victory.”
The commander added that US leadership, having failed to achieve its objectives, is now looking for a way out of the conflict.
Mutual De-escalation Desire
Islamabad-based security analyst Sayed Muhammad Ali told WE News that competing victory claims from both Washington and Tehran signal a possible de-escalation.
“While the US State Department has echoed President Donald Trump’s claim of victory, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency is also asserting that Tehran has defeated the United States,” he said.
“Such parallel claims of success from both sides suggest that there is a mutual desire to bring the conflict to an end,” Ali noted.
He added that this could reflect “significant and rapid progress” in negotiations being brokered and facilitated by Pakistan.
Conflicting Narratives Amid Ongoing Fighting
Despite both sides declaring success, developments on the ground indicate that the conflict remains active, with missile strikes and military operations continuing across multiple areas.
There has been no formal announcement of a ceasefire or diplomatic settlement, and the situation remains volatile as both sides maintain military readiness and continue to exchange threats.
The conflict escalated following a series of major attacks and retaliatory strikes involving US, Israeli, and Iranian forces, resulting in significant casualties and damage to infrastructure. Iran says it has carried out missile and drone attacks targeting US and Israeli positions, while Washington maintains that its operations have significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities.
