Tehran, Iran – Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared what he called a “true and absolute victory” militarily and politically in Tehran’s recent conflict with the United States and Israel. Ghalibaf made these remarks during a press conference with Iranian parliamentary reporters. His comments coincided with the expiration of the 60-day “Memorandum of Understanding” between the two sides. The initial deadline passed amidst mutual accusations of violations and the absence of a comprehensive final agreement.
Details of Al-Nasr’s claims and the opponents’ missed goals
During his speech, Qalibaf described the confrontation as an “unjust and cowardly” war waged by Washington and Tel Aviv against his country, highlighting several key points. He emphasized that the United States and Israel entered the conflict with nine specific and repeatedly stated objectives, but failed to achieve any of them. Qalibaf considered this resounding failure to be the “greatest and absolute defeat” for the adversaries. He also clarified that “military victory” is not measured by the destruction of opposing forces, but rather by the inability to achieve the set strategic objectives. In the same vein, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament praised the unity and remarkable resistance demonstrated by the Iranian people and their armed forces throughout the various stages of the fighting.
Memorandum of Understanding and expiry of its time and space period
It is worth noting that the aforementioned memorandum of understanding was signed on June 17, 2026, in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Qalibaf considered it a “document of pride and victory,” translating Iranian military gains into diplomatic and political success. The electronically signed document stipulated a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. It also included the initiation of talks concerning the nuclear issue and other matters, ensuring free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, and outlining practical steps to address sanctions and the embargo, as well as funding reconstruction. However, by the mid-August 2026 deadline, the two sides had failed to reach a comprehensive final agreement. Furthermore, the intervening period was marked by mutual accusations of violating the terms of the temporary truce.
Divergent views and a lack of full public awareness of the magnitude of the “victory”.
While Qalibaf and other senior officials in Tehran insist on portraying the overall outcome—including the regime’s survival, the continuation of the resistance, and the memorandum’s provisions—as a massive strategic victory for Tehran, independent assessments and American and Israeli perspectives paint a very different picture. Furthermore, Iranian media outlets have pointed out that the Iranian public has not fully grasped or been adequately informed about the details and scope of this “alleged victory.” This reflects a gap between official rhetoric and the lived reality of the Iranian people.
