US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has retracted his statement after his controversial statement that no American soldiers were killed in the war with Iran and acknowledged that 18 US soldiers were killed in the conflict with Tehran.
Publish dateSaturday 5 September 2026 - 09:21
Story Code : 364645
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Lutnick, who had previously claimed that no American citizens or soldiers had lost their lives during the war with Iran, corrected his statement after criticism mounted and said that he had meant the US military operation in Venezuela. He further emphasized that 18 American soldiers were killed during the war with Iran and that his previous statement was the result of a mistake and confusion between two military operations.
Trump's reaction to the US Commerce Secretary's statement
Previously, US President Donald Trump had rejected the claim made by his administration's Commerce Secretary. Trump wrote in a message on his social network called "Truth Social": "Lutnik had Venezuela in mind when he commented on "no one was killed in the Iran war." He continued his message by admitting: "18 people were killed in (the war against) Iran."
The number of US casualties in the war with Iran remains a controversial issue in the country's media. According to some published reports, the number of US military casualties during the recent clashes with Iran may be more than 18, but the US government has refused to provide exact figures.
Some unofficial sources have reported heavier US casualties in Iranian missile and drone attacks on its military bases in the region.
It is worth noting that the US war against Iran began in the final months of last year and has so far caused heavy casualties and financial losses for both sides.
Despite this, the US government has tried to minimize its casualties, but the Commerce Secretary's admission of 18 deaths indicates the opposite of these claims.
According to experts, the US Commerce Secretary's retreat from his initial statements and acknowledgement of the deaths of 18 soldiers in the war with Iran indicates the US government's attempt to manage public opinion and reduce domestic sensitivities towards war casualties.
Studies show that transparency about military casualties is one of the issues that can have a direct impact on the political atmosphere and public opinion in the US. Observers say that despite the US government's efforts to downplay the damage of the war, field realities and unofficial reports indicate heavier casualties.
According to experts, this admission could have a significant impact on increasing domestic pressure on the Trump administration to end the war.
Trump's reaction to the US Commerce Secretary's statement
Previously, US President Donald Trump had rejected the claim made by his administration's Commerce Secretary. Trump wrote in a message on his social network called "Truth Social": "Lutnik had Venezuela in mind when he commented on "no one was killed in the Iran war." He continued his message by admitting: "18 people were killed in (the war against) Iran."
The number of US casualties in the war with Iran remains a controversial issue in the country's media. According to some published reports, the number of US military casualties during the recent clashes with Iran may be more than 18, but the US government has refused to provide exact figures.
Some unofficial sources have reported heavier US casualties in Iranian missile and drone attacks on its military bases in the region.
It is worth noting that the US war against Iran began in the final months of last year and has so far caused heavy casualties and financial losses for both sides.
Despite this, the US government has tried to minimize its casualties, but the Commerce Secretary's admission of 18 deaths indicates the opposite of these claims.
According to experts, the US Commerce Secretary's retreat from his initial statements and acknowledgement of the deaths of 18 soldiers in the war with Iran indicates the US government's attempt to manage public opinion and reduce domestic sensitivities towards war casualties.
Studies show that transparency about military casualties is one of the issues that can have a direct impact on the political atmosphere and public opinion in the US. Observers say that despite the US government's efforts to downplay the damage of the war, field realities and unofficial reports indicate heavier casualties.
According to experts, this admission could have a significant impact on increasing domestic pressure on the Trump administration to end the war.
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