Tehran: Iran has signalled that it may be prepared for a long conflict with the United States, with a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps adviser saying the war could potentially continue until President Donald Trump leaves office in 2029. The statement comes as military tensions remain high and efforts to find a diplomatic solution continue to face serious difficulties.
Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, said Tehran could consider extending the conflict for several years as part of a strategy designed to increase the cost of military action against Iran. He said a prolonged conflict could demonstrate that attacking Iran would carry serious consequences and could help strengthen Iran's ability to deter future attacks.
Naqdi's remarks do not necessarily mean that Iran has formally decided to continue fighting until 2029. Instead, they describe one possible strategy being considered by Iranian military leaders. The idea is based on attrition, with Iran seeking to make a prolonged conflict increasingly expensive and difficult for the United States and its partners.
The comments have added to concerns that the current conflict could become a much longer confrontation instead of ending through a quick military settlement. Iran has repeatedly said that it will continue defending itself and has warned that further attacks could lead to wider consequences across the region.
One of the biggest points of tension is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which a major share of the world's oil shipments normally passes. The situation around the strait has become closely connected to the wider conflict. Iran has rejected claims from Trump that the United States has complete control of the waterway and has maintained that normal shipping will not return until its demands are addressed.
The uncertainty around Hormuz has already created pressure on energy markets and international shipping. Commercial vessels have faced greater risks, while governments and companies have been watching closely for signs that the waterway could remain restricted for an extended period. Any prolonged disruption could raise transportation and energy costs in countries far beyond the Middle East.
Iran's position has also become more closely linked to its negotiations with Washington. Tehran has been exchanging messages with the United States through intermediaries, while discussions involving Oman and other regional countries have focused on finding a way to reduce tensions and restore commercial movement through the strait. However, important disagreements remain over the conditions for reopening the waterway and ending the wider conflict.
Iran has also warned countries in the Gulf that they could face consequences if the United States launches further attacks against Iranian territory. Iranian officials have reportedly warned that energy facilities and other critical infrastructure in the region could become targets if the conflict expands. The warnings appear designed to increase pressure on Gulf governments to encourage Washington to seek a negotiated solution.
This creates a difficult situation for countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. These countries have strong economic and security ties with the United States, but they also face the possibility of being affected directly if the conflict spreads. Their governments have therefore become increasingly important in efforts to keep communication open between Washington and Tehran.
For Iran, a prolonged conflict may also serve a political purpose. Iranian leaders can present continued resistance as evidence that the country has survived sustained military pressure. At the same time, Tehran hopes that the economic and military costs of a long conflict will eventually encourage the United States to reconsider its approach.
However, maintaining a war for several years would also create enormous challenges for Iran. The country would face continuing pressure on its economy, infrastructure and population. Missile production, military operations and the protection of strategic facilities would require significant resources. Prolonged disruption to oil exports and international trade could further increase the pressure on the Iranian economy.
The United States would also face substantial costs if the conflict continued for years. Sustaining military forces in the region, maintaining naval operations and replacing weapons used during repeated strikes could become increasingly expensive. A long conflict could also create political pressure inside the United States, particularly if there is no clear path toward a decisive outcome.
The latest developments therefore point to a conflict in which neither side appears ready to accept the other's main demands. Iran is signalling that it can continue resisting, while the United States is maintaining pressure and demanding major changes from Tehran.
Despite the increasingly strong military language, diplomacy has not completely disappeared. Regional governments continue to pass messages between the two sides and search for possible arrangements that could reduce the immediate danger.
The possibility of an agreement over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important areas to watch.
For ordinary people across the region, the greatest concern is that the conflict could expand beyond Iran and the United States. A wider confrontation involving Gulf countries, energy facilities and shipping routes could have consequences for millions of people and could affect fuel prices, food costs and international trade.
Naqdi's warning therefore carries significance beyond the question of whether the war actually lasts until 2029. It shows that influential figures within Iran's military establishment are preparing the public and their opponents for the possibility of a prolonged confrontation.
The coming weeks are likely to be critical. A diplomatic breakthrough could still reduce tensions and allow shipping through Hormuz to recover. But if negotiations fail and military attacks resume at a higher level, Iran's strategy of prolonged resistance could become increasingly important to the future course of the conflict.
For now, the message from Tehran is clear. Iran wants Washington to understand that military pressure may not produce a quick surrender and that Tehran is prepared to consider a long struggle if it believes doing so will strengthen its position and discourage future attacks.