US-Iran ceasefire deal is a ‘victory’ for Iran and another 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war moment

After 39 days of intense fighting, the US, Israel and Iran have agreed to suspend the hostilities, at least temporarily, as the three countries agreed on a 15-day ceasefire. US President Donald Trump, who hours before the deal was reached, threatened that a “whole civilisation will die tonight”, was quick to claim a “total and complete victory” for the US.

US claims victory

“Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” Trump told AFP shortly after the announcement of the truce. This is despite the fact that the US has not fully achieved any of the declared goals of Operation Epic Fury, including the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure, regime change, and annihilation of Iran's proxy networks. The only tangible ‘victory’ for the US in the ceasefire deal is Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which, ironically, was not closed before the start of the war on 28 February.

Historic victory says Iran

Iran, too, has claimed victory after the ceasefire deal was reached on the 11th hour on Tuesday. According to Iran, it has achieved a “historic and crushing defeat” of the United States as Washington has been forced to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal.

Who is the winner?

While there are no clear winners or losers in this conflict, many observers have handed at least a symbolic victory to Iran, just for not losing the war against its much stronger opponents, the US and Israel.

2006 Israel-Hezbollah war

Incidentally, the Iranian victory is reminiscent of the outcome of the 2006 Israel- Hezbollah war, in which the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia was widely perceived as the ‘winner’ because it was not defeated by Israel after the 34-day-long conflict, despite suffering significant casualties.

The ‘victory’ catapulted Hezbollah as the premier resistance force against Israel in the region, a title it continued to hold for nearly two decades. Hezbollah went on to become the world's most heavily armed and powerful non-state actor, until another round of conflict with Israel in the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas terror attack.

Now Iran also has a similar victory in the current conflict against the US and Israel.

US agrees to Iran's 10-point proposal

According to Iran, the future negotiations will be based on its 10-point agenda.

* No new aggression against Iran

* Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz

* Acceptance of enrichment

* Removal of all primary sanctions

* Removal of all secondary sanctions

* Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

* Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions

* Payment of compensation to Iran

* Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region

* Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon