Senior White House officials have privately warned President Donald Trump that the escalating military and economic confrontation with Iran could continue for years — potentially lasting through the end of his current term in January 2029 — despite the President’s public predictions that the war will soon be over.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior administration advisers have discussed the possibility that Tehran could continue resisting the U.S. naval blockade and American military pressure for an extended period, according to a Wall Street Journal report cited by multiple outlets. The private assessment contrasts with Trump’s public statements suggesting that Iran may be unable to sustain the conflict much longer.

The warnings reportedly reflect concern within the administration that Iran may be prepared to absorb considerable military and economic damage rather than capitulate to American demands, creating the possibility of a prolonged confrontation instead of the relatively rapid conclusion Trump has publicly forecast.

The report comes amid another escalation in hostilities. Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward American military bases in Jordan this week following the U.S. destruction of five Iranian oil tankers. Jordan said 20 ballistic missiles were fired toward its territory and that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 18 of them.

The latest attacks occurred as the United States continues its naval blockade and military campaign against Iran. Administration officials have argued that the pressure is steadily degrading Tehran’s military capabilities while inflicting severe damage on the Iranian economy.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales rejected suggestions that the administration’s strategy was faltering, defending Trump’s handling of the conflict in comments to The Wall Street Journal.

“President Trump has destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is crippling what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history and crushing sanctions,” Wales said.

“Only President Trump knows what he will do and when.”

Trump, meanwhile, issued another direct warning to Tehran during his address Wednesday night at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, focusing specifically on reported activity at Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.

“We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard,” Trump said.

The President has repeatedly warned that the United States could strike Pickaxe Mountain if Iran conducts nuclear-related activity there. The underground complex has become a major focus of U.S. concern as Washington seeks to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Trump’s latest threat came just hours after he offered his own timetable for when he expects the broader war to conclude. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the President predicted that the fighting would end immediately following the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

“I think the war will end immediately after the election,” Trump said.

Trump argued that Iran was deliberately attempting to survive until the elections in hopes that the political landscape in Washington would change.

“They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

The President also said Tehran was reaching the limits of its ability to withstand American pressure, saying Iran “can’t hold out any longer.”

That public assessment stands in contrast to the reported discussions taking place among some of Trump’s most senior advisers. According to the Journal report, administration officials have contemplated a scenario in which Iran continues resisting despite the blockade, sanctions and military strikes, potentially turning the conflict into a years-long struggle.

The disagreement does not necessarily indicate that administration officials believe such a prolonged war is inevitable. Rather, the discussions reportedly reflect contingency planning for the possibility that Tehran does not capitulate on the timetable Trump has publicly suggested.

The political stakes of the conflict have also increased as the November midterms approach. Republicans are seeking to retain their congressional majorities, while the war and its economic consequences — particularly higher energy prices — have become part of the broader campaign debate. Trump used the opening night of the Republican convention in Dallas to urge supporters to turn out for GOP candidates and preserve Republican control of Congress.

Trump has continued to maintain that the military campaign is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, arguing that decades of diplomacy failed to permanently eliminate the threat.

At the same time, the President has sought to project confidence that the United States is prevailing militarily and economically, repeatedly pointing to the pressure being exerted by American forces, the naval blockade and sanctions.

{Matzav.com}