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Published : 10 Mar 2026, 12:52 AM
A top Iranian official has warned that Tehran is prepared for a prolonged war with the US, signaling a willingness to continue attacking Gulf countries to force a de-escalation from President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview with CNN on the 10th day of the conflict, Kamal Kharazi, foreign policy advisor to the office of the supreme leader, ruled out diplomacy for the time being.
He maintained that the war would only conclude through "economic pain”.
“I don’t see any room for diplomacy anymore. Because Donald Trump had been deceiving others and not keeping with his promises, and we experienced this in two times of negotiations -- that while we were engaged in negotiation, they struck us,” Kharazi was quoted as saying on Monday.
The Iranian official suggested that Gulf Arab nations and the wider international community must pressure the US to terminate what he described as “aggression” by American and Israeli forces.
“There’s no room unless the economic pressure would be built up to the extent that other countries would intervene to guarantee (the) termination of aggression of Americans and Israelis against Iran,” he told CNN.
He noted that the ongoing conflict is already destabilising global markets. “This war has been producing a lot of pressure -- economic pressure -- on others, in terms of inflation, in terms of lack of energy, and so if it will be continued, this pressure will be built up more, and therefore others have no choice (but) to intervene,” he added.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, Iran has launched strikes across the Middle East.
While Tehran claims it is targeting US interests and bases in Gulf nations, residential buildings and airports have repeatedly come under fire.
The hardening of Tehran's stance follows the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei to the country’s highest post over the weekend.
When asked if the military and the supreme leadership remain united under the new leader, Kharazi replied: “Yes, exactly.”
