TEHRAN: The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, has claimed that several American soldiers have been taken captive during the ongoing fighting over the past week. The statement introduces a significant contradiction to official US accounts of troop casualties .
Larijani, a key figure in Iran’s security establishment, stated that information regarding the capture of American forces had been reported to him. However, he did not specify the number of soldiers in captivity nor provide details about the circumstances or location of their capture.
In his remarks, Larijani directly challenged the narrative presented by the United States, suggesting that Washington is attempting to conceal the true fate of its service members. “The Americans claim that their soldiers have been killed in action,” Larijani said. “America’s efforts to hide the truth will not work, and this truth cannot be hidden for long.”
The Iranian official’s claim implies that US reports of soldiers killed in action may be inaccurate, with the troops actually being held captive .
The United States has firmly rejected the Iranian assertion. US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins dismissed the claim, stating: “The Iranian regime is doing everything it can to peddle lies and deceive. This is yet another clear example” .
The denial from CENTCOM came swiftly after Larijani’s comments were reported, with US officials maintaining that no American service members have been captured .
