Close aides to U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly suggested in private that the war with Iran could continue until the end of the presidential term.
On the 9th, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited unnamed sources to report that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among Trump's closest aides, discussed with the president in the Oval Office and Situation Room the possibility that the war could be prolonged. They were said to believe that if Iran continues to resist despite the U.S. blockade and other military pressure, the war could extend beyond January 2029, when Trump's term ends.
This current is also evident in the public remarks of close aides. Vice President Vance told reporters last week that he would not call the current situation a "war," but said he could not be sure when the fighting would end. He also said they would not disclose an "artificial timetable" that Iran could exploit.
Military moves also suggest preparation for a prolonged conflict. According to some sources, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to extend the deployment of some air defense units stationed in the Middle East without setting a clear end date. A third Marine Expeditionary Unit is also preparing to be additionally deployed to the Middle East this fall. The department is rotating Air Force fighter squadrons deployed in the region and is replacing fighters returning to Aviano Air Base in Italy with Air National Guard F-16s.
That contrasts with President Trump's repeated assurances of an early end to the Iran war. Meeting with reporters the same day, Trump said, "I think the war will end as soon as the election is over. Because they (Iran) can't hold out any longer," projecting the war would end right after the midterm elections in November.
WSJ noted that if the U.S. maritime blockade and the buildup of forces stationed in the Middle East are prolonged, U.S. forces deployed in Europe and Asia could be reassigned to the Middle East.
Susan Maloney, an Iran expert at the Brookings Institution, said, "Because a U.S. maritime blockade is unlikely to produce decisive results in the short or medium term, realistically, using this tool requires assuming a long-term blockade plan," adding, "Even so, the chances of success are uncertain because of unintended consequences, such as Iran's attacks on the energy and economic facilities of Gulf states."