Presstv.co.uk – Sept 16, 2026
The deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says the country’s forces inflicted serious damage on US warships during their recent attacks, stressing that the Islamic Republic emerged victorious by preventing the enemy from achieving its objectives.
Speaking at a meeting of the Council of the Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Sacred Defense and Resistance Values on Wednesday, Brigadier General Kioumars Heyderi said the Iranian Armed Forces are now directing the course of the war and have forced the enemy into a reactive position.
“Today, there is no doubt that our armed forces are victorious on the battlefield,” he said, explaining that if a defender can prevent an attacker from reaching its objectives at a predetermined time and place, then the defender is victorious.
“The enemy that dreamed of overthrowing the system is now acting passively on the battlefield. In other words, if it carries out any action, it is in response to our actions,” he said.
He added that Iran’s capabilities have also demonstrated the vulnerability of US naval power.
“The peak of American military capability is its navy and its warships. Throughout history, from World War II until today, no power had been able to challenge a US warship or its naval power. But by God’s grace and with the help of Imam Mahdi, a few nights ago we witnessed our missiles target and attack their heavy warships and frigates and inflict serious damage on them,” Haideri said.
The senior commander further said that Iran’s attacks had compelled the United States to move its forces at least 500 kilometers away from Iran.
He noted that Iran was confronting the United States despite the fact that many countries were afraid of Washington and reluctant even to mention its name, let alone engage it militarily.
“The United States is backed by the Zionist regime and some regional countries, yet we achieved success under these circumstances,” Haideri said.
He also highlighted Iran’s reliance on domestic capabilities, saying the country’s armed forces are operating at the forefront of technology while relying primarily on indigenous capacities.
“If we had not relied on our domestic capabilities, our stockpiles and reserves could not have met the demands,” he said.
Heyderi said Iran has responded to every “brazen move” by the enemy with large-scale missile strikes, adding that the country’s military capabilities have surprised the enemies.
“Today, in response to every brazen move by the enemy, we are raining a barrage of missiles across the region and have surprised the enemy. The power of our armed forces is truly remarkable,” he said.
Referring to Iran’s military capabilities against the United States, Heyderi said US forces in the region faced two choices if the war continued.
“If the Americans continue the war, large numbers of their forces, just as some have already met their fate, will return to their country on the decks of those same warships, while many others, God willing, will sink to the bottom of the region’s waters,” he said.
He concluded by saying that Iran’s calibrated measures will further increase the distance between the two sides and will ultimately enable the country to present a final victory to its people.
Iran has an indigenous defense industry, developed under the most severe sanctions. It has produced advanced anti-ship missiles, drones, and other systems capable of holding hostile naval assets at risk in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and beyond.
Officials have previously emphasized that Iran’s Armed Forces treat every threat as real and maintain high readiness to defend national interests and the livelihood of the Iranian people.