Iran has declared itself the winner of the war, with Army Chief Amir Hatami claiming that its adversaries failed to achieve ther main objectives.Hatami said the opposing side sought to destroy Iran’s drone and missile capabilities but failed to do so. He claimed Tehran continued launching intense attacks from its remaining stockpile until the final stage of the conflict.According to Hatami’s military reasoning, an attacking side can claim victory only if it achieves its objectives. In a defensive war, he said, the failure of the attackers to reach their goals amounts to a victory for the defending country.Meanwhile, debate is growing over new US sanctions against Iran. Security official Mohsen Rezaei recently warned that any future conflict would take a “completely different” form.Hamad Bin Khalifa University professor Sultan Barakat told Al Jazeera that the remark should not be viewed as a threat. Rather, he said, it was a warning to neighbouring countries to act cautiously in response to the new sanctions.Barakat said several countries connected to Iran by land and the Caspian Sea may seek ways to maintain economic ties with Tehran despite US sanctions. He added that Rezaei’s message was essentially that Iran cannot afford an economic war with everyone.The professor also warned that the latest sanctions could ultimately prove counterproductive for Washington, just as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had previously caused significant costs for the United States.