US-Israel-Iran War Live News: The war in the Middle East has entered a prolonged phase, with a senior IRGC adviser hinting that Tehran may continue fighting until US President Donald Trump’s current term ends in January 2029.
Mohammad Reza Naqdi said Iran wants to turn battlefield experience into stronger deterrence, while also defending attacks on commercial vessels and signalling a more offensive military posture.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: ‘We Have Learned to Fight US’
Iranian IRGC adviser Mohammad Reza Naqdi has claimed that months of fighting with the United States have given Tehran military experience it did not previously possess.
“The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain. We had never seen a real war to gain real experience to learn how to fight with America. In these five months, we have learned how,” he said.
Naqdi said the conflict has also changed Iran’s assessment of the US military. He claimed that American forces are weaker than Tehran previously believed. “We have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived,” he said.
His comments suggest that Iranian officials increasingly view the ongoing conflict not only as a military confrontation but also as an opportunity to study US tactics and improve Iran’s ability to respond to future attacks.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Says War Could Continue Until Trump Leaves Office
Naqdi has also raised the possibility of Iran deliberately extending the conflict until Trump leaves the White House.
“One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they will know there is a cost,” Naqdi said during an interview with PBS NewsHour.
He said Tehran wants to establish a level of deterrence that would make future attacks against Iran more difficult. “We have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security,” he said.
Trump’s current term is scheduled to end on January 20, 2029. Naqdi’s comments therefore raise the possibility of Tehran preparing for a much longer confrontation rather than seeking an immediate military settlement.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran-US War To End in 2029?
Naqdi’s remarks have raised questions over whether Tehran is seriously considering continuing the war until 2029 or using the possibility of a prolonged conflict as leverage in negotiations.
His comments focused on attrition, deterrence and the cost of any future attack on Iran. By linking the war to the end of Trump’s presidential term, Naqdi also suggested that Tehran could view political changes in Washington as a potential turning point.
However, his comments do not amount to a formal Iranian announcement that the war will continue until 2029. The timeline remains dependent on military developments, diplomatic negotiations and decisions by both Washington and Tehran.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Defends Attacks on Commercial Ships in Strait of Hormuz
Naqdi also defended Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that Iran considers the waterway a region it can control during wartime and claimed that ships leaving areas under Iranian control could potentially carry supplies to Tehran’s enemies.
“When we are at war, vessels need to pass through a region we can control,” Naghdi said. “When they leave an area that we control, it could be that they’re transporting supplies for the enemy.”
Asked whether attacking civilian vessels violated international law, Naqdi maintained that Iran could restrict shipping routes it considered threatening. “When you’re in a state of war, any thoroughfare deemed to be a threat, we can control it,” he said.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Naqdi Explains Mojtaba Khamenei’s Absence
Naqdi was also questioned about the limited public appearances of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during the war. He attributed Khamenei’s absence to security concerns and rejected suggestions that another reason could explain the lack of public appearances.
“Naturally, it is due to security,” Naghdi said when asked whether Khamenei was staying out of public view for security reasons. “Certainly, there is no other reason.” Naqdi declined to say whether he had personally seen Khamenei.
Khamenei’s limited public presence has attracted attention as Iran continues to face military pressure and reorganises parts of its security and military leadership.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Moves Towards More Offensive Military Strategy
Iran appears to be moving toward a more offensive military doctrine, with Naqdi saying its forces must be capable of taking operations into enemy territory. “Whenever the conditions are favourable, and the order is issued, we must be able to take the operation into enemy territory,” he said.
Naqdi contrasted this approach with Iran’s previous doctrine, which he said was “primarily based on defence and the preservation of the country.”
The shift comes alongside a series of senior military appointments by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Tehran has placed experienced security and military figures in key positions as the conflict with Washington continues.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Says Its ‘Final Objective’ is Still Unmet
Despite claiming that it has gained important military experience and frustrated US objectives, Naqdi said Iran has not yet reached its ultimate goal. Iran has repeatedly claimed that Washington failed to achieve some of its key objectives, including efforts to weaken the Iranian leadership and destabilise the country.
“We saw confusion and bewilderment in America. It became a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective. For several nights, they said they want to invade Kharg Island.
They said they want to open the Strait of Hormuz. They mobilised their battleships. Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious,” he said. His comments indicate that Tehran believes the conflict has strengthened its understanding of American military strategy, even as the fighting continues.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What’s Next?
The possibility of a prolonged war now adds another layer of uncertainty to the US-Iran confrontation. Naqdi’s comments suggest that Tehran could view a longer conflict as a way to build military experience, strengthen deterrence and increase the cost of future attacks.
At the same time, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint. Continued attacks on commercial vessels could further disrupt international shipping and increase pressure on global energy markets.
The immediate focus will remain on whether Washington and Tehran can return to negotiations or whether military operations will continue. For now, Naqdi’s remarks show that at least some senior Iranian officials are preparing for the possibility of a conflict that could last far beyond the current phase of fighting.
