On Aug. 11, Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), granted an interview to PBS. It was characterized as a rare interview with a Western media outlet but Naqdi made clear that the IRGC saw it as an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. “We would like for our voice to reach the ears of people in Western countries,” he said at the outset. “It’s Western media that don’t like our voice to be heard. There’s nothing we do that’s indefensible and outside the values of humanity that we would want to cover up or not discuss.”
When asked if Iran has won the war and is in control, Naqdi replied: “Certainly, victory is on our side, after the defeat of America’s two main objectives, the toppling of the leadership and the breaking up of Iran. We saw confusion and bewilderment in America. It became a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective. For several nights, they said they want to invade Kharg Island. They said they want to open the Strait of Hormuz. They mobilized their battleships. Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious.”
“In your view, is it inevitable that Iran has won?” the interviewer asked. “No, we have not yet reached our final objective. This is clear. ...” Naqdi replies, adding: “The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain. We had never seen a real war to gain real experience to learn how to fight with America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived.”
