Andrew Korybko
The same proof that “Non-Russian Pro-Russians” present
in support of their claim that Iran dealt a “crushing defeat” to the US could
be presented by Ukraine to claim the same about Russia once the special
operation ends if its maximalist goals aren’t achieved in full just like the
US’ weren’t
Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed Iranian authorities’ rhetoric by describing
the US-Iranian
ceasefire as a “crushing
defeat” for the US, which most “Non-Russian Pro-Russians” (NRPRs) agree
with, who support Iran in large part due to it being the US’ adversary.
Although she didn’t elaborate on how she arrived at this conclusion, many NRPRs
did, and the gist is that the US failed to achieve its maximalist goals despite
its superior force capabilities.
Even though Iran was hit very
hard by the US during the Third
Gulf War, Iran also hit US bases in the region, the US’ Gulf allies, and
Israel pretty hard too. It didn’t sink even a single American ship like many
were hyped up to expect would happen, nor did it inflict any damage on the US’
or Israel’s nuclear triad, yet the very fact that it survived and harmed its
adversaries is presented as proof of its victory. That’s fair, and everyone has
the right to their own view, but NRPRs might soon find themselves in a dilemma.
That’s because the special operation might hypothetically end without Russia achieving its maximalist goals of demilitarizing Ukraine, denazifying it, restoring the country’s constitutional neutrality (including in the practical sense of severing its ties with NATO), and controlling all the disputed territory. Ukraine might then parrot Iran’s boasts to claim victory over Russia for the same reason that Iran is claiming victory over the US, and which Russia endorses, by pointing to the failure to achieve its maximalist goals.






















