Gholamhossein Karbaschi: the Islamic Republic cannot bring America to its knees

Gholamhossein Karbaschi, former mayor of Tehran and former secretary-general of the Executives of Construction Party, said in an interview on the Islamic Republic's state television that the government cannot bring America to its knees and that those who claim otherwise are exaggerating the Islamic Republic's military strength. His remarks drew wide attention on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Karbaschi said that despite the damage inflicted on American forces, the Islamic Republic's military power is not comparable to Washington's, and the losses Iran has suffered are far greater than the damage done to America. He called for the war to be ended through negotiation and said such an end does not mean accepting all of America's demands. According to him, the government needs the support of the people to stand up to pressure from Donald Trump.

The attack on the tankers and the Islamabad agreement

The former mayor of Tehran said that had the Islamabad agreement been properly implemented, the attack on three tankers would have been prevented, and asked who had targeted those ships. He added that a distinction must be made between the real reason for violating an agreement and the pretext used to abandon it. His remarks come as the IRGC rejected the account that Masoud Pezeshkian was unaware of the attack on the three tankers, saying the attack had been carried out in coordination with higher-ranking officials.

Karbaschi also questioned the long imprisonment of Mostafa Tajzadeh, a former deputy interior minister, for voicing a political opinion, and described the release of him and of Mostafa Mehrayin, an imprisoned sociologist, as part of the effort to end the war. Mehrayin was arrested in May–June 2025 after publishing a letter criticising Ali Khamenei and was sentenced to eight years in prison.

A rift over war and negotiation

Karbaschi's remarks come as the rift inside the government over continuing the war has become more visible: hardline media defend the policy of "no war, no negotiation", while figures close to the reformists call for talks. Earlier, Abbas Akhoundi, a former roads minister, was the target of a failed assassination attempt after a critical speech. The admission by a veteran figure of the government, on official television, that it is powerless against America undermines from within the narrative of victory repeated by IRGC commanders.

The former mayor of Tehran admitted on state television that the Islamic Republic's losses in the war have been far greater than America's.