Iran's IRGC Marks Oct. 7 Anniversary, Declares 'End of Zionism'

On the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement calling the assault "the beginning of the end of Zionism" and proclaiming the defeat of Israel and the United States on "all fronts." The statement, reported by Iran's Mehr news agency, contrasts with commemorations in Israel for victims and hostages. The IRGC hailed the "heroes" of the massacre and claimed its own victories, according to its narrative. The IRGC described the attack, dubbed Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" by the perpetrators, as "historic and strategic," asserting it shattered the "myth of invincibility" of the Israeli army and hastened the "inevitable decline" of Israel. The statement quoted the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had called the attack a "future-shaping event," and claimed it set a course for the "inevitable decline of the Zionist regime." The IRGC further alleged that the operation not only destroyed the myth of the Zionist army's invincibility but also solidified the "resistance front" as a strategic reality in the region. The statement then shifted to detailing Israel's alleged "economic, political, and international collapse," also citing significant problems for the U.S., including Iran's "decisive control" over the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC characterized these as detrimental to the "terrorist U.S. government" and the "criminal Zionist regime." Despite acknowledging its own losses and "high-ranking commanders" killed, the IRGC maintained the "axis of resistance" remains steadfast. The statement concluded by declaring that the U.S. and Israel suffered a "humiliating defeat on all fronts" and failed to achieve their primary goal of weakening Iran. The IRGC cited unnamed "regional analysts" to support its claims. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated in a Reuters interview that the decision-making authority of Iranian negotiators remains unclear, while the U.S. demands significant reductions in Iran's uranium enrichment capacity. Vance indicated that without concrete steps from Iran, a ceasefire agreement is unlikely, and the threat of further U.S. strikes persists, with the IRGC's victory declarations offering no protection.