Iran vows to prolong war until Trump's term ends, says it has learnt to exhaust US

Tehran has drawn a clear line in the sand: it will keep the war going until Donald Trump is out of the White House. In a rare interview, a top adviser to Iran's Revolutionary Guard leader said the Islamic Republic has learnt how to exhaust the United States and make it pay a heavy price for its military presence in the region.

The comments, reported by multiple outlets including Moneycontrol and PBS, mark one of the most explicit statements yet from Iran's military establishment about its endgame in the current conflict. The adviser, whose name has not been disclosed, told PBS that Tehran's strategy is to outlast the Trump administration rather than seek a quick resolution.

Strategy of attrition

Iran's approach, the adviser said, is built on a simple calculation: the US president is in a political race against time, while Tehran can afford to wait. By prolonging the war, Iran aims to drain American resources and willpower, forcing Washington to reconsider its commitments in the Middle East.

"We have learnt how to make the US pay a cost for every step it takes," the adviser was quoted as saying. The interview, conducted with a senior figure close to the IRGC leadership, was described as a deliberate signal to both domestic audiences and international observers.

Experts note that this is not a new doctrine. Iran has long favoured asymmetric warfare and proxy forces over direct confrontation. What is new is the open admission that the timeline of the conflict is tied to the US electoral calendar.

'Pay a cost' warning

The adviser's warning—that the US will "pay a cost" if it continues its current path—echoes statements made by other Iranian officials in recent weeks. The phrase appears to be a coded threat aimed at American forces stationed across the region, from Iraq to the Persian Gulf.

Indian news outlet NDTV framed the development as a "Mideast War To Continue Till Trump's Term Ends," while India Today highlighted the adviser's insistence that Iran remains defiant until its demands are met. Al Jazeera reported that Iran is vowing to fight the US until its conditions are fulfilled, though no specific demands were listed in the interview.

Rare interview signals resolve

The PBS interview is significant because such access to IRGC insiders is rare. The adviser, who sits close to the Guard's supreme leader, was careful to frame Iran's stance as defensive rather than aggressive. He described the war as one imposed on Iran, and resistance as a matter of survival.

Analysts caution that the interview is as much about messaging as it is about military strategy. By tying the conflict's duration to Trump's term, Iran is attempting to shape perceptions in Washington, where war fatigue is already a factor in public discourse.

There is no independent confirmation of Iran's military capabilities or its claims of exhausting the US. Pentagon officials have not commented on the adviser's remarks, and the White House has not issued a formal response.

Regional fallout

The implications extend beyond the battlefield. If Iran follows through on its stated strategy, the coming months could see heightened attacks on US assets, increased volatility in oil markets, and further strain on already fragile diplomatic channels. Gulf states, which host US bases, are watching closely.

For now, Tehran's message is unambiguous: it will not blink first. Whether this is a bluff or a calculated plan remains to be seen, but the regime's leadership appears united in its resolve to wait out the Trump presidency.

What happens next depends on Washington's response. If the US escalates, Iran's attrition strategy could backfire; if it withdraws, Tehran will claim victory. The coming weeks will reveal which side's patience runs out first.