IRGC: Iran Ready for Protracted Conflict with the US

A senior adviser to the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Naqdi, has stated that Iran is prepared for a protracted conflict with the United States to guarantee its full security. “We must achieve a deterrent effect so that the enemy does not dare attack us, allowing us to live in safety. One way is to prolong this war until the next presidential term and inflict losses; so that if another party considers attacking Iran, they will know there are consequences,” Naqdi said in an interview with PBS. He added that the US armed forces have proven weaker than Iran had anticipated. On 18 June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict that began on 28 February. However, on 8 July, US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire was no longer in effect. Subsequently, on 12 July, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until US interference in the region ends, following a new wave of retaliatory strikes. The next day, Trump declared that the US would act as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz and re-imposed a US blockade on Iranian ports. Trump also stated that his administration had reduced efforts to reach a deal with Iran and was “de-escalating” the process, hoping that economic pressure would yield results.