In a post on his X account accompanied by an image of a rock relief depicting the victory of Shapur I, Baqaei referred to a historic confrontation between ancient Persia and the Roman Empire.

The spokesman said the Roman campaign against Persia ended not in victory for Rome, but in a peace settlement imposed on Sasanian terms, demonstrating how Iranians shattered the illusion of enemy supremacy.

“In the Roman mind, Rome was the undisputed center of the world. Yet the Iranians shattered that illusion; when Marcus Julius Philippus (Philip the Arab) marched east against Persia, the campaign did not result in Roman victory — it ended in a peace established on Sasanian terms: the emperor had to come to terms!” he said.