Trump Claims Iran is Destroyed, Expert: The Reality is It is Growing Stronger
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are entering an increasingly complex phase. On one hand, the United States and Israel claim significant success in their military campaign against Iran. On the other hand, several experts and Western officials assess that Tehran’s power structure remains intact and even demonstrates adaptive capabilities amid extreme pressure.
Washington and Tel Aviv state that they have targeted and eliminated several key Iranian figures since the military operation began on 28 February. Important names in the power structure, including strategic figures in military, intelligence, and political fields, are said to have been removed. This narrative was then reinforced by President Donald Trump, who described the operation as a “swift and decisive victory.”
However, analysts’ readings point in a different direction. They observe that although there have been significant losses at the elite level, the Iranian regime shows no signs of disintegration. Leadership changes are instead filled by figures with the same ideological lines, potentially even harder than their predecessors, as reported by RT.
Senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Karim Sadjadpour, assesses that Iran’s new leaders remain committed to the principles of the 1979 revolution. In a situation of eroding legitimacy, they are expected to govern with a more repressive approach. In this framework, conflict with the United States is not viewed as the main threat but rather as an instrument for internal power consolidation.
A similar view is expressed by analyst Siamak Namazi, who emphasises that decision-making dynamics in Iran are now increasingly difficult to map. The elimination of several decision-makers has instead created new uncertainties: who truly holds control from time to time.
Amid this situation, one institution remains solid: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Experts assess that the IRGC not only maintains control but also has the potential to become even more dominant, both politically and economically. In many ways, the conflict strengthens this institution’s position as the de facto centre of power in Iran.
US intelligence assessments reinforce this ambivalent picture. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard states that the Iranian regime has indeed experienced a decline in capacity due to military attacks but remains intact as a power structure. This means the blows delivered have not been sufficient to collapse the country’s foundations.