A senior Iranian official signaled that Tehran is not backing down, declaring that the war will continue until its demands are met, underscoring the wide gap between Iran and the United States despite recent talk of progress.

Mohsen Rezaei, a top military adviser to Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued the warning in response to statements by President Donald Trump, who has suggested there may be movement toward a potential agreement.

Rezaei reacted sharply to earlier U.S. threats targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure—threats that Trump has since pulled back—making clear that Iran is maintaining a hardline stance even as negotiations continue.

“The war will continue until we are compensated for all our losses, all economic sanctions are lifted, and we receive international legal guarantees that Washington will not interfere in our affairs,” Rezaei said, outlining Tehran’s position.

He also issued a direct warning, escalating the rhetoric as tensions remain high.

“This time it will not be an eye for an eye, but a head for an eye, and you will leave the Gulf,” he said.

Rezaei’s demands stand in stark contrast to the conditions set by the United States and Israel. In recent discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance, Washington made clear it would insist on the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, a complete halt to its nuclear program, and the return of strict inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Rezaei, who rose to prominence following the killing of Iran’s previous supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is considered one of the most influential figures in the current Iranian leadership. His appointment as a military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei highlights his growing role in shaping policy.

Security officials assess that the divide between the two sides remains extremely wide. While Trump has projected optimism in public statements, Iran’s insistence on compensation, sanctions relief, and binding guarantees appears far from acceptable to Washington and Jerusalem.

Israeli officials have expressed concern that any agreement reached could fall short of fully addressing the threat, raising fears of a “partial victory” that satisfies political goals without ensuring long-term security. Rezaei’s remarks reinforce concerns that Iran may be using the negotiations to buy time and strengthen its position rather than move toward dismantling its nuclear program.