‘Until Trump is out’: Iran signals war could stretch for years

Published 12 August 2026 · world

Trump is facing mounting pressure as stalled talks, depleted weapons stockpiles and Iran’s resistance complicate his search for an exit from the war. How Trump

Trump is facing mounting pressure as stalled talks, depleted weapons stockpiles and Iran’s resistance complicate his search for an exit from the war. How Trump is stuck in a war he started Iran could seek to prolong its war with the US until President Donald Trump leaves office, a senior adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said, signalling a potential strategy of "attrition" rather than a quick resolution to the conflict.“We have to attain deterrence so that the enemy never dares to attack us, so we can live with security," CNN quoted Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a top adviser to the IRGC commander, saying."One way is to prolong this war until we get to the next term of the presidency and cause attrition, so that if anyone else wants to attack Iran, they will know there is a cost,” he said in a PBS interview.Meanwhile, Trump claimed the US had secured control over Hormuz, while portraying Iran as increasingly weakened by the conflict."The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz.

I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL,' and there is nothing Iran can do about it. They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their “Leadership” is uncertain, at best! They have No Money - Their country is 'shot.' All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer.Praise be to Allah!" Trump said.Trump appears to be searching for a way out of the Iran war as months of fighting, stalled talks and mounting economic pressure complicate efforts to secure a quick resolution.

His administration is now pivoting back towards sanctions, arguing that Iran's economy is nearing a breaking point and that financial pressure could force Tehran to accept US demands.But the conflict has become harder to contain. Iran has effectively closed Hormuz, sending oil prices higher and raising pressure on global energy supplies. US oil futures have remained above pre-war levels, while Washington has drawn down more than 100 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve since the start of 2026.Trump is also facing diminishing room for manoeuvre as US weapons stockpiles have fallen and stop-start negotiations have repeatedly stalled. Despite this, the president continues to argue that sustained pressure could force Tehran into a breakthrough.Meanwhile, Iran is showing little sign of backing down.