Iran ‘determined’ to continue war for months

Iran appears increasingly confident in its ability to strike targets across the Middle East and determined to continue its war with the United States for months, according to U.S. intelligence assessments.

That confidence reflects the actions of Iranian forces during sporadic flare-ups in the regional war. Last week, Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. forces in the region. The United States responded with strikes inside Iran that killed military personnel and civilians. The latest exchanges have so far remained limited, but intelligence reports suggest Tehran’s hard-line government may be considering a significant escalation.

Current and former officials briefed on the intelligence said Iran’s leadership now has greater faith in its military capabilities. The reports indicate that reaching an agreement to end the war completely could prove difficult. There are few signs that Tehran is ready to make a deal with Washington, partly because it believes continued confrontation worsens President Donald Trump’s political problems ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

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The Iranians feel quite optimistic about their position.

Trump is not currently seeking negotiations. He has said he believes economic pressure can force Iran to make concessions over its control of the Strait of Hormuz and, eventually, possibly its nuclear program. In the short term, however, U.S. sanctions are likely to increase tensions, officials who have read the intelligence reports said.

Iran could take actions in the coming weeks similar to those it took in July, officials said. At that time, Iranian forces attacked U.S. military bases in the Middle East, killing three Americans in Jordan, and struck ships in the Strait of Hormuz and infrastructure in Gulf states. U.S. officials also said Iran-linked hackers may have regrouped in recent months after suffering losses early in the war. “The Iranians feel quite optimistic about their position,” said Representative Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat and member of the Intelligence Committee. “They have suffered significant damage, but that was always built into their system. They understand that they can take damage and they are playing a much longer game.”

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They have suffered significant damage, but that was always built into their system. They understand that they can take damage and they are playing a much longer game.