TEHRAN August 22, 2026 — Iran’s Basij Organization chief Hossein Taeb declared on Saturday that the United States and Israel are now in one of their weakest positions, asserting that the global map of power is undergoing a fundamental change and that the two countries can no longer claim to be the centerpiece of the world or the region.
Speaking at the Fourth National Ceremony for Honoring Activists of the country’s mosques in Tehran, Taeb said the “Global Arrogance,” centered on the United States and Israel, had suffered severe defeats from Iran on multiple fronts. He claimed the adversary entered a recent war with Iran deploying its full military and propaganda capabilities, only to be forced into requesting a ceasefire and subsequent negotiations after Iranian forces and the nation refused to yield.
“The crushing operations of the Armed Forces revealed the weaknesses of the US military to the world; an army that, with a huge budget and all the intelligence and operational capabilities, thought it could finish off Iran in a short time,” Taeb stated. He added that neither the Iranian nation nor its armed forces weakened during the conflict; instead, the enemy was compelled to retreat, cease fire, and negotiate.
Taeb further described the current trajectory of the United States and Israel as a “downward trend,” characterizing recent rhetoric from US President Donald Trump as stemming from “desperation, not initiative.” He also referenced domestic US polls indicating that a large portion of the American public views war with Iran as a major mistake.
The remarks, reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency and quickly amplified by accounts including @BRICSinfo, come against the backdrop of an ongoing regional confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Iranian officials have portrayed the conflict—described in state media as lasting several months—as a strategic victory for Tehran, citing resistance that exposed vulnerabilities in US and Israeli military capabilities. Discussions continue over issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has imposed conditions for any full reopening of the vital waterway.
Taeb, a senior cleric and former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization who was recently appointed to lead the Basij paramilitary force, has repeatedly framed recent events as evidence of declining Western dominance in the region. His latest comments reinforce Tehran’s narrative of resilience and a shifting international order, even as economic pressures and diplomatic negotiations persist.
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