Iran-US War: IRGC Official Warns Conflict Could Last to 2029

Core News & Key Facts

Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Mohammad Reza Naqdi has suggested that Tehran could prolong its war with the United States until the end of US President Donald Trump’s current term in January 2029. His remarks come as repeated negotiations between Washington and Tehran have failed to produce a lasting peace agreement.

In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Naqdi said Iran’s objective was to establish deterrence so that future adversaries would understand that attacking the country would carry a significant cost. He identified prolonging the conflict and creating attrition as one possible route toward achieving that objective.

Naqdi also said Iran had not yet achieved its “final objective.” According to him, the longer the conflict continues, the more experience Iranian forces gain in confronting the US military.

Context & Official Statements

Naqdi claimed Iran had already prevented the United States from achieving objectives such as overthrowing Iran’s leadership or breaking up the country. He described what he characterised as confusion in Washington and said US objectives had changed repeatedly during the conflict.

“The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain,” Naqdi said, adding that Iran had never previously experienced a direct war of this nature against the United States.

He also claimed that Iranian forces had developed a greater understanding of American military capabilities during the conflict and suggested that the US military was weaker than Iran had previously perceived.

The remarks come amid reports that Iran has reorganised parts of its military leadership and adopted a more offensive posture. Naqdi, who advises the IRGC’s new commander, said Iranian forces should be capable of conducting operations inside enemy territory whenever conditions allow and orders are issued.

Impact & What to Expect Next

The statements indicate that at least some senior Iranian military officials are preparing for the possibility of a prolonged confrontation rather than an immediate settlement. Naqdi’s reference to 2029 also directly links the potential duration of the conflict to the end of Trump’s current presidential term.

Peace efforts remain stalled despite mediation involving Pakistan, Turkey and Oman. Multiple rounds of negotiations and an interim agreement have so far failed to produce a comprehensive resolution.

For now, the remarks do not constitute a formal Iranian declaration that the war will continue until 2029. Instead, they outline one possible strategy being discussed by a senior IRGC official. The immediate outlook therefore remains uncertain, with the duration of the conflict dependent on military developments and the prospects for renewed diplomatic negotiations.