Iran has warned that any renewed war with the United States could be longer than the previous conflict, after President Donald Trump said he still needed to 'take care of' remaining targets, including a suspected underground nuclear complex. The warning came as Axios reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed the president to strike Iran immediately after Tuesday's US midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump suggested the US could swiftly strike its remaining targets. 'You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly,' he said.
The conflict began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, and Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region. Iran-aligned groups joined the fighting in Lebanon and Yemen. Iran has claimed control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit, and repeatedly targeted vessels attempting to cross without its authorisation.
Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned, according to Iranian state television, that 'a potential future war could last longer than previous conflict, and the American president would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion.'
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi echoed the supreme leader, stating: 'In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy.'
On the diplomatic front, Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei disclosed he had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive talks. Mr Rezaei noted a positive change in tone from Washington but had yet to respond. He said Tehran had told Washington that unless its conditions were met, including unfreezing assets, ending the US naval blockade, lifting sanctions and ending the war, 'neither would the Strait of Hormuz be reopened nor would there be any negotiations'.
Axios reported that Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu discussed the state of negotiations in a call on Saturday. An Israeli source described the call as 'tough' while a US source said it was 'direct'. According to the report, Mr Netanyahu pressed the president to strike immediately after the midterms, while Mr Trump was eager to let negotiations play out. Mr Trump confirmed he had discussed Iran with Mr Netanyahu but declined to elaborate.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the official IRNA news agency that Iran 'remains prepared for both defence and diplomacy'.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, told a conference in Manama the UAE hoped for a diplomatic breakthrough but was preparing for the worst. 'It is not the interest of the region to go through another round,' he said.
In Tehran, some residents described a sense of helplessness. 'The news coming in is truly worrying. However... there is nothing I can actually do about it,' health inspector Mohadese told AFP. Vendor Ebrahim saw no reason to be concerned. 'We do not fear another war; we have been at war for 48 years now.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The conflict directly threatens the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit where Iran has subjected vessels to attack without its authorisation.
- The timing of any escalation is intertwined with the US midterm elections, making domestic politics a factor in war decisions.
- A dispute between Trump and Netanyahu over the timing of strikes could strain the US-Israel alliance's wartime strategy.
Background
The war began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region and drew in allied groups in Lebanon and Yemen. Iran has claimed control over the Strait of Hormuz and the US has imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Key Perspectives
- Donald Trump: States the US can swiftly strike remaining sites but is currently willing to let negotiations play out.
- Benjamin Netanyahu: Pressing Trump to resume combat operations immediately after the US midterm elections.
- Iranian leadership: Army, Revolutionary Guards and the Foreign Ministry warn of a prolonged, geographically unlimited conflict while keeping diplomacy on the table.
- UAE: Hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough but publicly preparing for a renewed escalation.
What to Watch
- The outcome of the US midterm elections on Tuesday and how it shifts the political landscape for both Trump and Netanyahu.
- How Iran responds to Vice President Vance's letter seeking revived talks.
- Any escalation in naval skirmishes near the Strait of Hormuz.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedNetanyahu pressed Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections.Axios: “The sources said Netanyahu is pressing Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections on Tuesday.”
- SupportedRezaei said Vance’s letter sought to revive talks, as Iran set conditions involving the Strait of Hormuz.RTÉ News: “Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei disclosed on Saturday that he had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance seeking to revive talks.”
- SupportedTrump said: “You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly.”RTÉ News: “"You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly," he added, referring to a suspected underground nuclear complex.”
- SupportedIran warned that a renewed war with the US could last longer than the previous conflict.RTÉ News: “Iran has warned that any renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous round of fighting”
- SupportedAkraminia said a future war could last longer and that the US president could not dictate its timing or conditions.RTÉ News: “"A potential future war could last longer than previous conflict, and the American president would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion," said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia”
- Partly supportedIranian officials’ stated conditions include unfreezing assets, ending the US naval blockade, lifting sanctions and ending the war.RTÉ News: “Those conditions include unfreezing Iranian assets abroad, ending the months-long US naval blockade of Iranian ports, lifting longstanding sanctions and ending the war on all fronts.”
- SupportedThe conflict began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.RTÉ News: “the war, which began on 28 February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran”
- SupportedMohebbi said: “In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy.”RTÉ News: “"In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy," Mr Mohebbi said, according to state television.”
- SupportedAraghchi said Iran “remains prepared for both defence and diplomacy.”RTÉ News: “adding that Iran "remains prepared for both defence and diplomacy", according to the official IRNA news agency.”
- SupportedGargash said: “It is not the interest of the region to go through another round.”RTÉ News: “"It is not the interest of the region to go through another round... But I think we're also, as we've shown before, braced for the worst."”
- SupportedMohadese said the news was worrying but there was nothing she could do about it.RTÉ News: “"The news coming in is truly worrying. However... there is nothing I can actually do about it," Mohadese, a 27-year-old health inspector, told AFP.”
- SupportedEbrahim said: “We do not fear another war; we have been at war for 48 years now.”RTÉ News: “"We do not fear another war; we have been at war for 48 years now - we are always at war," he said in downtown Tehran.”