Mohammad Reza Naqdi, senior adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iran could continue the war with the United States until President Donald Trump leaves office.
In an interview with PBS, Naqdi said that Iran’s goal is to reach a level of military capability that would make the United States afraid to attack it, so that anyone considering an attack on Tehran would understand the serious consequences it could face.
He said, “We must continue deterrence so that the enemy does not try to attack us again, allowing us to live safely. One way to achieve this is to continue this war into the next presidential term, making it clear that anyone who attacks Iran will know that there will be a cost.”
Naqdi, who served as the IRGC’s Deputy Commander for Coordination from 2019 to 2025, was asked whether Iran is currently performing better in the war. He said they believe they are achieving victory.
He accused the United States of fighting a “war without a clear direction,” arguing that its objectives keep changing every few days, sometimes focusing on capturing Kharg Island and at other times on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Naqdi said that the longer the war continues, the more experience Iran gains in confronting U.S. forces.
“During these five months, we have learned how to fight the United States. We have also seen that the U.S. military is weaker than we had expected,” he said.
Regarding attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, he said that vessels traveling through areas not controlled by Iran could be suspected of carrying military supplies for forces opposing Iran.
Naqdi said that Iran is producing more missiles than it uses each day, adding that even if its missiles were to run out, it still has the capability to undermine U.S. interests around the world.
