TEHRAN: Iran has accused the United States of concealing the true scale of its military losses in the ongoing conflict, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate following weeks of fighting.
Speaking at a briefing, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, alleged that Washington is deliberately withholding accurate information about the number of American soldiers killed and wounded in the war. He claimed that US authorities are censoring casualty figures to prevent public backlash at home.
Zolfaghari criticised US leadership, directly addressing Donald Trump, saying the conflict would not succeed through what he described as “media manipulation.” He further argued that if the true extent of casualties were disclosed, it could trigger strong resistance among the American public against the continuation of the war.
Conflict Background and Escalation
The accusations come amid an intensifying conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran. The White House justified the military operation by citing concerns over Iran’s missile capabilities and alleged nuclear threats.
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting sites in Israel as well as US military installations across the region. Bases in countries including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly been affected.
High-Profile Losses and Regional Impact
The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties and high-profile losses on the Iranian side, including the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials in the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes.
Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, have been targeted, causing widespread damage and contributing to rising civilian casualties. Iranian officials have repeatedly condemned the attacks as unlawful and warned of continued retaliation.
Growing Information War
Analysts note that alongside military escalation, both sides are increasingly engaged in an information battle, with competing narratives about the scale of damage and casualties. Iran’s latest claims highlight the deep mistrust between the two sides and the broader struggle to shape public perception of the conflict.
As the war continues, independent verification of casualty figures remains limited, further fuelling uncertainty and competing claims about the true human cost of the ongoing confrontation.
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