Archive · 13 Aug 2026
IRGC adviser says Iran may prolong war until Trump leaves
Iran and the United States are fighting a war.
An important Iranian military adviser named Mohammad Reza Naqdi gave an interview to PBS.
He said Iran could keep the war going until President Trump is no longer president, which will be in January 2029.
He thinks a longer war will wear out the United States and warn other countries not to attack Iran.
Naqdi said victory is on Iran's side and that the American military is weaker than people thought.
He also said Iran makes more missiles every day than it uses.
He warned that if Iran ever ran out of missiles, it could destroy America's business interests all over the world.
He said Iran does not need nuclear weapons because it has support from people around the world.
The day before the interview, President Trump said Iran's economy is in terrible shape, with very high inflation and soldiers leaving.
The two leaders disagree strongly about who is winning the war.
Iranian IRGC adviser Mohammad Reza Naqdi told PBS that Iran could 'prolong' the war with the US until President Donald Trump leaves office in January 2029.
He said a prolonged conflict would cause attrition so any future attacker would know that attacking Iran carries a cost.
Naqdi described Washington's campaign as a 'war without strategy' and claimed the American military is weaker than Iran had perceived.
He said Iran manufactures more missiles daily than it launches, warning that if its stockpile runs out, America's thousands of economic interests could be easily destroyed.
The remarks came a day after Trump said Iran's economy was 'not sustainable,' citing 300% inflation, a nearly worthless currency, and soldiers leaving.
- Who
- Mohammad Reza Naqdi, senior adviser to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who spoke to PBS; his remarks respond to US President Donald Trump's statements.
- What
- Naqdi said Iran could 'prolong' the war with the US until Trump leaves office in January 2029, building deterrence through attrition, and claimed Iran's daily missile production exceeds its usage.
- When
- Wednesday, when the PBS interview was published, a day after Trump's remarks on Iran's economy.
- Where
- No interview location is specified; the statements concern the US-Iran conflict, including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Kharg Island.
- Why
- To attain deterrence so the enemy never dares to attack Iran and so future attackers know there is a cost.
Iran (IRGC perspective)
US (Trump administration)
State of the conflict
Iran (IRGC perspective)
Naqdi says victory is on Iran's side, the American military is weaker than perceived, and Iran is gaining combat experience after five months of real war.
US (Trump administration)
Trump says Iran faces 300% inflation, a nearly worthless currency, unpaid soldiers, and troops leaving, calling the situation 'not sustainable.'
War strategy and endgame
Iran (IRGC perspective)
Naqdi calls the US campaign a 'war without strategy' that announces new objectives every few days, and says Iran can prolong the war until Trump leaves office in January 2029 to cause attrition.
US (Trump administration)
Trump outlined three possible approaches for ending the conflict, including maintaining current pressure and allowing Iran to fail economically.
- Speaker
- Mohammad Reza Naqdi, senior adviser to the IRGC commander
- Naqdi's former role
- Coordinating deputy of the IRGC, 2019-2025
- Interview outlet
- PBS
- Trump's inflation claim
- 300%
- War duration referenced
- Five months
- Key locations
- Strait of Hormuz; Kharg Island
- Referenced end of Trump term
- January 2029
- Pre-war Hormuz traffic
- About a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas
