Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 9, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed that the human and military losses suffered by the United States during the war with Iran were significantly higher than the official figures released by Washington.
He said Iranian armed forces had destroyed 81 US military aircraft during the conflict. However, the claim could not be independently verified immediately.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Araghchi presented figures concerning US military losses. He said that in May this year, the US Congressional Research Service had acknowledged that Iranian armed forces had destroyed 42 American military aircraft. According to the Iranian foreign minister, subsequent operations had increased the figure to 81.
Objections to US Figures
In his statement, the Iranian foreign minister questioned Washington’s official position on US military losses, saying that the full details of American military fatalities and damage to military assets were not being disclosed.
Araghchi also referred to the current situation at US military bases as part of his argument. He questioned why US Central Command was not allowing a sitting American senator to inspect the bases if they had not suffered significant damage during the war.
The Iranian foreign minister argued that the refusal to permit inspections raised questions about whether American officials were concealing the true extent of the damage. However, he did not provide details of any specific military base, aircraft or attack that could independently substantiate the claim that 81 aircraft had been destroyed.
Claim Has Not Been Independently Verified
Araghchi’s statement included figures concerning the destruction of American aircraft, but it did not clarify what types of military aircraft were included in the total of 81.
It also remained unclear whether the figure included helicopters, drones or other aerial assets in addition to combat aircraft.
The Iranian foreign minister’s claim could not be immediately verified through independent sources. Similarly, the available information did not independently establish that US military losses had reached the level cited by Iran.
During military conflicts, both sides frequently make claims about the losses suffered by their adversaries. However, verifying such claims is often difficult. In particular, limited access for independent journalists and international observers to conflict zones can make it challenging to obtain accurate figures on damage to military aircraft, bases and personnel in the immediate aftermath of attacks.
Exchange of Claims Amid Iran-US Tensions
Amid continuing tensions between Iran and the United States, both sides have repeatedly claimed to have damaged each other’s military assets. Alongside Tehran’s claims about American military losses, Washington has also presented its own position regarding damage to Iran’s military capabilities and installations.
The Iranian government’s figures concerning US losses have emerged at a time when military and political tensions between the two countries remain elevated. In such circumstances, military figures released by either side may be challenged by the opposing party.
By raising the issue of inspections at American military bases, the Iranian foreign minister has brought further attention to the matter. However, details of any immediate response from US officials to the claim or the question of inspections were not available.
For now, the claim that 81 American aircraft were destroyed remains an assertion made by Iran’s foreign minister. In the absence of independent verification, it cannot be presented as an established account of US military losses.
The actual scale of the damage can be determined only when independent reporting, official records and credible evidence become available.
