Iran's Quds Force chief: War discredited US, accelerated Israel's collapse

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, has stated that the recent conflict has "completely discredited America" and accelerated the "collapse" of the "criminal Israeli regime."

According to remarks carried by Iranian media, Qaani said that despite "unprecedented pressure, maximum destruction, and horrific crimes," not a single resistance group abandoned the field, and that the resilience of regional allies had "terrified the enemies."

Qaani also claimed that regional armed groups independently chose to support Iran during the conflict, stating that it was their own decision without any prompting from Tehran. He specifically highlighted Hezbollah's role, noting that the Lebanese resistance movement fought alongside Iran for 104 days and asserted that the group "cannot be dismantled" and that its capabilities are only "the tip of the iceberg."

He further pointed to the Bab al-Mandab Strait as a strategic advantage for Iran-aligned forces, claiming that advanced American warships avoided passing through the area during the war. Qaani also praised Iran's negotiating team, stating that their steadfastness in the Lebanon issue proved the effectiveness of both battlefield and diplomatic actors.

These statements were made following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, which initiated a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.