The "Double-Sided Mirror of Victory"—The Narrative War Behind the Claims of Success by the US and Iran

A ceasefire agreement where both sides claim to have "won"—Trump asserts that the US "achieved and exceeded all military objectives," while Iran claims to have pushed the enemy into a "historic dead end." When the military confrontation temporarily subsides, the real battleground shifts to the realm of public opinion. These two starkly different "victory declarations" outline an invisible war over discourse.

1. Trump: "A Complete and Total Victory"

After the ceasefire was announced, Trump quickly branded himself as the "victor." He stated on social media that the US "achieved and exceeded all military objectives," declaring it a "complete and total victory." In an interview with AFP, Trump said Iran's uranium enrichment issue would be "handled perfectly."

In another post, Trump added that Iran's ten-point plan is a "feasible basis for negotiations," and claimed that the previously contentious issues between the US and Iran are "almost in consensus." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the US "achieved and surpassed" its military goals in just 38 days, and that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was a major achievement.

However, these "victory declarations" by Trump were soon questioned. When asked by a reporter, "Since Iran has been essentially destroyed, why is the fighting still ongoing?" Trump admitted that Iran "still has some missiles and some drones." This admission reveals a contradiction behind the claim of "total victory": if the US military had truly "destroyed" Iran's military capability, why does Iran still have the ability to retaliate and shoot down US aircraft?

2. Iran: "The Enemy Was Forced to Surrender"

Iran's victory narrative is equally assertive. A statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council claimed that nearly all objectives in this conflict had been achieved, and that the enemy "suffered a historic and complete defeat." Iran would "continue the struggle until its great achievements are consolidated."

The Central Headquarters of Iran's Hatem Ansar Corps announced that Iran had achieved a "victory" against the US and Israel, stating that during 40 days of resistance, Iran "regained control of the war" and forced the US and Israel to "surrender and accept Iran's ceasefire conditions." The statement also emphasized Iran's "complete distrust" of the US and Israel, and that Iran is prepared for "more intense, prolonged, and widespread war."

On the streets of Tehran, pro-government protesters chanted "Death to America, Death to Israel," and burned US and Israeli flags. State media claimed Iran had achieved nearly all strategic objectives. Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani bluntly stated, "The enemy suffered an undeniable defeat."

But Iran's "victory narrative" also has its vulnerabilities. Iran's ten-point plan includes demands such as US military withdrawal from the Middle East, lifting all sanctions, and compensation for war damages, but the US has yet to publicly commit to these core terms. While Trump said Iran's ten-point plan could serve as a basis for negotiations, the White House also stated that Iran's initial ten-point proposal was "unacceptable and has been discarded"—leaving a big question mark over whether Iran truly "forced the US to surrender."

3. The Truth Behind the Data: Who Is Lying?

Comparing both sides' "victory declarations" with publicly available data reveals significant exaggerations on both sides.

Militarily, Trump claimed Iran's military strength had been destroyed, but after Iran shot down a US F-15E and an A-10, it still has the capability to launch drone and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others, and can carry out operations like "Operation True Commitment-4" (Wave 99). The battlefield reality does not support the conclusion that "Iran's military has collapsed."

Economically, US gasoline prices have risen nearly 40%, and Trump's approval rating fell to 35% by the end of March—its lowest since his return to the White House. Democratic and some Republican lawmakers have even called for invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump. These data points do not support Trump's narrative of "America's great victory," but rather suggest that the ceasefire was a compromise driven by battlefield realities and domestic pressure.

In terms of casualties, Iran claims to have "won the war," but according to data from the US Human Rights Activists News Agency, over 1,900 civilians have been killed, 81k civilian facilities destroyed, more than 310 students and teachers dead, and approximately 3.5 million displaced. These figures also do not support the conclusion of an "overwhelming victory."

4. A War Without Winners

BBC analysis may be closest to the truth: both sides claim victory, but perhaps no one truly wins.

Trump's "victory" is strategic—he succeeded in forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is a core US objective. But the cost includes domestic economic and political backlash. Iran's "victory" is tactical—demonstrating resilience and forcing the US back to the negotiation table, rather than pursuing the goal of "destroying Iranian civilization." Yet, this comes at the cost of thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars in reconstruction.

Both sides need to craft a "victory" narrative for their domestic audiences—Trump faces war fatigue among voters, and Iran's regime seeks to bolster internal cohesion. The word "victory" itself has long been imbued with very different meanings for each side.

5. The Future Narrative Battle: The Real Test at the Negotiation Table

The true "victor" will ultimately be determined at the negotiation table. The US and Iran will begin a two-week negotiation in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 10. Trump said the US delegation would be led by Vice President Kamala Harris, while Iran would be represented by Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

However, the prospects for these talks are uncertain. Iran has made it clear that negotiations do not mean an end to the war; only when all principles of Iran's ten-point plan are accepted and details finalized will Iran agree to end the conflict. The US insists only on accepting terms "meaningful to the United States."

Researcher Pan Xinmao from the Military Science Institute pointed out that Iran views the ceasefire as "tactical respite, not strategic compromise." Trump’s stance is similarly just a "two-week buffer." When both sides see the ceasefire as a preparatory phase for the next round of bargaining rather than an endpoint, the debate over "who won" will continue—until the dust settles after two weeks.

Summary: One ceasefire, two victory declarations. Trump claims Iran is "basically destroyed," while Iran says the enemy was "forced to surrender." Both claim victory— but if both are winners, who is the loser? Perhaps the answer is simple: in these 40 days of conflict, the only losers are the thousands of civilians who lost their lives, the 81k destroyed civilian facilities, the 310 students and teachers who perished, and the peace in the Middle East shattered by war. True victory is not declared with words—it is written at the negotiation table, in the ships' routes through the Strait of Hormuz, and in the agenda of the Islamabad talks in the coming two weeks.