Iran‘s leadership has pitched its war with the United States and Israel as a triumph, emerging stronger and more resolute than ever, but the damage inflicted by the war may have fundamentally transformed the regime for the worse.

After the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding was signed on Thursday, both sides quickly maneuvered to present the conflict as a victory. Tehran went beyond claiming it had achieved victory simply through survival, arguing it brought the U.S. and Israel to their knees and emerged stronger than ever.