Iran says deal to end Mideast war 'declaration of US defeat'
Iran called the deal it struck with the United States a "declaration of defeat" on Wednesday, as Washington's top diplomat kicked off a tour of Gulf countries hit hardest by Tehran during the Middle East war.
The war that began with a massive U.S.-Israeli campaign of strikes against Iran on February 28 ended with the Islamic republic striking an agreement its leaders have sought to portray as a victory.
The conflict sowed chaos in the region, with Tehran retaliating against its foes by blockading a key waterway for energy shipments and launching thousands of drones and missiles at its Gulf neighbours.
The U.S. and Iran signed the agreement last week and launched a process aimed at reaching a permanent settlement -- with the Islamic republic's leadership transformed but the system of rule firmly in place.
