Iran’s military advisor to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei, claimed on Monday that hundreds of US soldiers were killed in strikes throughout July, with hundreds more wounded. This assertion, made in an interview with regime-owned Press TV, directly contradicts official US figures. Press TV further alleged that the United States admitted to a total of 650 casualties, encompassing both killed and wounded personnel, from these recent attacks. Iranian sources, however, offered a higher estimate, suggesting nearly 500 US soldiers were killed. These claims emerge as the Islamic Republic continues its campaign of regional destabilization, often through proxy forces.
US Central Command provided a starkly different account. Their latest information indicates that four US soldiers were killed in Jordan and Iraq during July 2026. An additional 14 soldiers were reported killed earlier in the year as part of Operation Epic Fury. In late July, 417 soldiers were listed as wounded during the war with Iran, with another 207 soldiers sustaining injuries in "Overseas Operations." The discrepancy between Iranian propaganda and verified facts underscores Tehran's consistent use of disinformation.
Iran's Proxy Network and Regional Aggression
Rezaei’s statements came amid months of US airstrikes. These operations aimed to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz and compel Tehran to return to negotiations. However, repeated US escalations have been met by increasing Iranian responses. These responses target US forces across the region, as well as Washington's Gulf-Arab allies and vital shipping lanes.
Significantly, Rezaei asserted that Israel remained out of the most recent US-Iran conflict. He attributed this to Israel's resources already being stretched thin in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. This admission highlights the integrated nature of Iran's proxy network, which keeps Israel on a constant defensive footing against Islamist aggression. Rezaei further claimed Israel's absence was a facade, designed to make the US appear as a strong, independent entity, while the "Zionist regime" pressures the US into conflict.
Tehran's Deception and Western Resolve
Rezaei also warned that the US's "desperate maneuvers" risk initiating a third world war. He suggested such a conflict would be far more destructive than World War II, echoing a statement made by former President Trump just hours earlier in the Oval Office. Trump had alleged that Iran, with the backing of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, initiated renewed talks because they "did not want to be hit" by strikes he claimed would have been the biggest attacks since World War II. Trump announced these renewed negotiations between the two nations while speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei contradicted Trump's assertion earlier on Monday. Baghaei stated unequivocally that no negotiations with the United States were taking place, and no meetings were scheduled. He added that Iran had no plans to host foreign delegations or send negotiators abroad in the coming days. Rezaei, despite his bellicose rhetoric, also claimed Iran prefers diplomacy over continued war, while simultaneously labeling the United States a "warmonger." He then rhetorically asked, "It was America that attacked our country and our people, martyred our Leader and our children. Did we attack them and massacre their nation?" This narrative of victimhood is a common tactic used by the Iranian regime to deflect from its own aggressive actions.