Iran on Saturday claimed significant military gains during its conflict with the United States, asserting that it downed hundreds of hostile aircraft and strengthened its domestic defence manufacturing capabilities, through underground “missile production cities”Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi claimed the country downed 260 hostile aircraft during the US-Iran conflict. These included F-35, F-16, F-5 and F-18 fighter jets, as well as MQ-1, RQ-4, Orbiter and Lucas drones, Mehr News Agency reported.Additionally, the official said Tehran had intercepted seven reconnaissance aircraft over the past two weeks.“We have brought down seven MQM-170 reconnaissance drones intact. This is nothing but a demonstration of our technological superiority over the enemy,” Mohebbi said.The spokesperson claimed Iran’s defence force has rapidly transferred its missile and drone production lines from the surface to underground facilities, moving beyond underground missile storage complexes to establish “missile production cities” deep beneath the ground, utilising domestic technical capabilities and geographical advantages.According to local media, Iran has rapidly developed its national defence networks following months of intense military hostility with the United States and its Gulf allies, and now possesses advanced capabilities.“If another war breaks out, the world will witness the IRGC Aerospace Force’s new capabilities, and our enemies will be astonished by its strength and power,” Mohebbi claimed.Iran also claimed it was exporting defence equipment like Arman missiles, the 358 loitering munition and the Khordad-3 air defence system, while also meeting domestic demands.“Today, in addition to meeting domestic needs, we have become an exporter of defence equipment and products—a significant achievement for the country.”The United States and Israel carried out extensive strikes on Iranian nuclear and military installations during 2025 and 2026, saying their operations were aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and deterring its nuclear ambitions.US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has played down the confrontation, insisting that it should not be described as a war. He claimed Washington had made substantial progress in dealing with Iran and was extracting more oil than it had before the hostilities.“We made a lot of progress with Iran. We’re taking out more oil now than we were before the war. It’s not a war. It can’t be a war when for five months nobody was hurt, killed, or anything else. It’s not a war,” Trump said.His remarks came after the Republican Party suffered setbacks in the US midterm elections, prompting a softer tone from the US President.The war with Iran emerged as one of the factors behind the Republican Party’s poor performance in the midterm elections, with the conflict adding to public dissatisfaction over rising fuel prices and the cost of living. The prolonged military campaign and its economic consequences became a liability for Trump and Republican candidates, particularly among voters who wanted the administration to focus on domestic concerns rather than a foreign conflict.Vice President JD Vance attributed the party’s defeat to the war, writing on social media, “The reason we lost is the war.”Trump acknowledged that the conflict had hurt Republicans electorally, although he defended the decision to launch military action against Iran.
