Iran says war with US may last until Trump leaves

The Story in Brief

A senior adviser to the IRGC commander, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, has said Iran may prolong its war with the United States until President Trump leaves office, aiming to impose long-term costs on Washington. “One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition,” he said in a PBS interview. Trump, meanwhile, claimed on social media that the US has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, calling the naval blockade a “Wall of Steel” and portraying Iran’s military and economy as crippled.

But the conflict is proving hard to contain. Iran’s effective closure of Hormuz has pushed oil prices higher, and the US has drawn down over 100 million barrels from its strategic reserve since early 2026. Trump faces stalled talks, depleted weapons stockpiles, and diminishing room for manoeuvre as his administration pivots back to sanctions. Iran has rejected his demand for compensation and insists it will not reopen the strait until conditions are met.