Ahmad Vahidi, a top commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), asserted on Saturday that the nation's military performance over the past six months has proven that Islam can rule the world. Vahidi stated that Iran's efforts, which included missile strikes on U.S. bases and allied infrastructure in the Gulf region, demonstrated this capability.
"Islam can be made to rule the world," Vahidi said in a message published Saturday. He also lauded the IRGC, army, police, and Basij forces for bringing the U.S., described as "the most heavily armed army in the history of the world," to its knees. According to Vahidi, Iran has "opened the gates of uprising for the oppressed of the world."
These claims come amidst an ongoing conflict where Iran has targeted neighboring Islamic countries hosting U.S. military facilities. However, U.S. intelligence reports indicate that the U.S. Navy maintains a significant presence around the Strait of Hormuz, and has reportedly degraded much of Iran's naval capabilities and missile systems.
Early in the war, combined U.S. and Israeli strikes reportedly eliminated a substantial portion of Iran's political leadership, though the regime itself remains in power. Negotiations aimed at ending the war have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement.