US-Iran War Until 2029?

Six months, one interim agreement, and several rounds of negotiations later, the war between the US and Iran continues to smolder. The question that has run through all these months, as Washington and Tehran exchange strikes, is: when will the war end? The answer may have just been provided by a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard official.

Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a general in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, told PBS News Hour that Tehran could 'prolong' the war until the end of US President Donald Trump's term, i.e., until January 20, 2029. His statements are reported by Hindustan Times and come at a time when negotiations to end the conflict have hit a dead end despite mediation by Pakistan, Turkey, and Oman.

Strategy of Exhaustion: 'Let Them Know There Is a Price'

In the interview, Naqdi explained the logic behind potentially prolonging the conflict. "We must achieve deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so that we can live in security. One way is to prolong this war until the next presidential term and cause exhaustion, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they know there is a price," Naqdi said.

The general claimed that Iran has so far been victorious in the war, defeating American goals of toppling the leadership and breaking the country. He criticized the American strategy, describing it as a war without a clear plan. "We have seen confusion and astonishment in America. It has become a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new target. A few nights, they said they wanted to attack Kharg Island. They said they wanted to open the Strait of Hormuz. They mobilized their warships. Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious," he stated.

Iran Shifts to an 'Offensive Doctrine'

Naqdi added that Iran has not yet achieved its 'ultimate goal,' but that the conflict brings valuable experience. "The longer this war lasts, the more experience we gain. We have never seen a real war to gain real experience in fighting America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than we thought," he said.

His words come amid reports of a reorganization of the Iranian military toward more aggressive action abroad. A series of military appointments made by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei signals a shift toward an 'offensive doctrine,' which Naqdi confirmed in an interview on state television on Tuesday evening. "Whenever conditions are favorable and the order is given, we must be capable of transferring the operation to enemy territory," he said, contrasting this with the pre-war doctrine that was primarily defensive.

This reorganization hints that Tehran is preparing for a prolonged regional crisis.