Iran's FM Araghchi says real US military casualties will be revealed at the right time

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that hundreds of US military bases and facilities have been struck and dozens of American aircraft have been set ablaze, describing these incidents as only a fraction of the damage inflicted. "This is only the tip of the iceberg," he said, adding that at the right time Iran will reveal the actual number of US military casualties and that those who falsely claim Iran is defenseless will be left disgraced.

Araghchi's remarks were made in response to statements by US officials and Pentagon reports on damage to American military bases and facilities. He framed the comments as a direct reply to the assertion that Iran is defenseless, stating that the scale of the strikes contradicts that claim.

The comments follow the Pentagon's first official confirmation that a US F-35 stealth fighter was hit by "enemy fire" and damaged during a combat mission over Iran. A recent report by the Pentagon's inspector general, covering the period from February 28 to June 30, also said that hundreds of US buildings and structures across the region had been damaged or destroyed. The report further confirmed a significant depletion of US stocks of several key weapons.

The foreign minister did not provide specific figures for casualties or a timeline for their release. The Pentagon has not publicly responded to Araghchi's statement. The inspector general's report and the F-35 confirmation have not been independently verified beyond the official accounts cited.

According to Mehr News, Araghchi's post reiterated that the disclosed damage represents only part of the total, and that further details on US military casualties would be made public at an appropriate time.