Iran Warns New US War Could Last Longer

TEHRAN: (News Desk) – Iran has warned that any renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous conflict, saying US President Donald Trump would not be able to determine when or under what conditions the fighting would end.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia made the remarks on Sunday, according to Iranian state television, warning that Washington would not dictate the duration or terms of a potential future war.

He was referring to the most intense phase of fighting in the conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran retaliated by launching missiles and drones across the region, while armed groups backed by Tehran also became involved in the fighting in Lebanon and Yemen.

Separately, Iranian Defence Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi warned that any attack on the country would trigger a “proportionate, decisive, and impactful response”.

“Those who pose threats will not dictate the scope, timing, or consequences of Iran’s defensive response,” he said, according to state television.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi also echoed remarks made by Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a written message issued a day earlier.

“In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy,” Mohebbi said.

The warnings came after US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that American forces had destroyed much of Iran’s military capabilities but still needed to deal with one or two remaining targets.

“We’ve knocked out their nuclear. We still have to take care of, I would say, one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes,” Trump said.