Iran has warned that another war with the United States could last longer than the previous conflict.
The warning followed fresh threats by US President Donald Trump to strike remaining targets inside Iran.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Washington would not determine the timing or terms of ending another conflict.
“A potential future war could last longer than previous conflicts, and the American president would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion,” he said.
Iranian state television broadcast the remarks on Sunday.
Trump Threatens More Strikes on Iran
Trump recently said the United States still had one or two targets to address in Iran.
“We still have to take care of, I would say one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes,” he told reporters.
The US president also mentioned Pickaxe Mountain. He described it as a location that Washington could strike quickly.
The site is suspected to house an underground nuclear complex.
Meanwhile, US media reported that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday.
The discussion reportedly focused on negotiations with Iran and possible military action.
According to Axios, Netanyahu pushed for fresh strikes after Tuesday’s US midterm elections. Trump, however, reportedly preferred to allow negotiations to continue.
An Israeli official described the call as “tough”. A US official called it “direct”.
Trump later confirmed that he discussed Iran with Netanyahu. However, he declined to provide further details.
Iran Warns of Attacks Beyond Its Borders
Iranian military officials have also warned against another attack.
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Hossein Mohebbi echoed a warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
“In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy,” Mohebbi said.
His remarks signalled Tehran’s warning that any renewed conflict could extend beyond Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also called for diplomacy.
“We hope the other side will exercise rationality and choose diplomacy,” he said.
Araghchi added that Iran remained prepared for both defence and diplomacy.
Iran Sets Conditions for Renewed Talks
Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, disclosed that he had received a letter from US Vice-President JD Vance.
The letter reportedly sought to revive negotiations between both countries.
Rezaei acknowledged what he described as a positive change in Washington’s tone. However, he said he had not responded.
He also restated Tehran’s conditions for further negotiations.
Iran wants the United States to unfreeze its assets held abroad. It also demands an end to the naval blockade of its ports.
Other conditions include lifting longstanding sanctions and ending the war on all fronts.
Tehran has also linked the negotiations to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic waterway remains vital to global energy supplies. Iran has claimed control over the passage since the conflict began.
The United States has also imposed a naval counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
UAE Hopes for Diplomacy but Prepares for Escalation
The United Arab Emirates has expressed hope for a diplomatic breakthrough.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the region wanted to avoid another round of fighting.
“We’re hoping that there is a diplomatic breakthrough,” he said at a conference in Manama.
However, Gargash warned that regional countries were preparing for possible escalation.
“It is not the interest of the region to go through another round… But I think we’re also, as we’ve shown before, braced for the worst,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents in Tehran expressed different reactions to the possibility of renewed fighting.
A 27-year-old health inspector, Mohadese, told AFP that the reports were worrying. She said she felt unable to influence the situation.
However, a 48-year-old vendor identified as Ebrahim said he was not afraid.
“We do not fear another war; we have been at war for 48 years now — we are always at war,” he said.
