Trump: "We Can Fight Forever"... Is the U.S.-Iran Conflict Entering a Prolonged War? (Comprehensive) [U.S.-Iran War]
by Lee Hyunwoo
Published 04 Mar.2026 10:48(KST)
Updated 04 Mar.2026 14:05(KST)
Trump: "Unlimited Ammunition Reserves"
"Khamenei's Son Likely as Next Leader"
Push for Prolonged War Raises Concerns Over Escalating U.S. Fiscal Losses
There are growing predictions that the conflict between the United States and Iran could turn into a prolonged war. After U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a long-term war is possible, Iran also expressed strong determination to resist.
However, both inside and outside the United States, there is a sense of unease as the situation evolves. Concerns about enormous fiscal losses are mounting, and Trump's core support base, known as "MAGA," is voicing increasing opposition to a protracted conflict. Experts also point out that, with midterm elections approaching, the political burden is high. They emphasize that it would be extremely difficult to launch a ground operation with the current number of deployed troops.
Trump Says "War Can Be Fought Forever"... Indicates Possibility of Prolonged Conflict
On March 3 (local time), President Trump responded via his social media platform Truth Social to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article published the previous day, which argued that a prolonged war would be difficult due to insufficient ammunition stockpiles. He stated, "The WSJ article is wrong and disgraceful." He continued, "We have never had such high or good stockpiles of intermediate and advanced munitions as we do now. In fact, we could supply these weapons almost without limit," adding, "With just these stockpiles, we could fight this war forever, and do so very successfully." He stressed that, if necessary, a long-term war with Iran would be entirely possible.
Iran, too, has not wavered in its commitment to a prolonged fight. Within Iran, it is reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike, is being seriously considered as a successor. The New York Times (NYT), citing three Iranian officials, reported that within the Assembly of Experts-a constitutional body responsible for selecting the supreme leader-there have been calls, especially from hardliners in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to nominate Mojtaba Khamenei as the next leader.
Vali Nasr, an expert on Iran and Shia Islam at Johns Hopkins University, told the NYT, "If Mojtaba Khamenei is chosen, the Iranian regime will, in effect, be even more dominated by the much harder-line Revolutionary Guard than it is now."
The Iranian military has also emphasized its ability to sustain a prolonged defense. According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Reza Talaei-Nik, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, stated at a press conference, "In this imposed war, we have the capability to resist longer and continue an offensive defense than our adversaries have planned for. We do not intend to use all our advanced weapons and equipment in the first few days."
Concerns Over Expanding U.S. Fiscal Losses... Large-Scale Ground Forces Also Needed
There are concerns both within and outside the United States that a prolonged war could result in massive fiscal losses. Kent Smetters, lead researcher of the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said in an interview with Fortune, "The total economic cost of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran could reach up to $210 billion (about 310 trillion won)," adding, "Direct military spending alone is estimated to range from at least $40 billion to as much as $95 billion." He warned that "if the war lasts longer than two months, costs will increase dramatically."
Bloomberg News also pointed out, "Iran's Shahed drones cost around $20,000 each, but the missiles the U.S. is using to intercept them cost up to $4 million," adding that "the longer the conflict drags on, the more disadvantageous it could become for the United States and the more advantageous for Iran."
There are also arguments that the current U.S. military presence is insufficient. The number of U.S. troops deployed for the Iran operation is estimated at 45,000 to 50,000, a scale only sufficient for limited airstrikes, and analysts say it would be difficult to conduct actual ground operations for a prolonged war.
Mark Cancian, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and research associate Chris Park, stated in a recent report, "The U.S. forces currently deployed in the Middle East are sufficient for punitive airstrikes, but lack the Marine Corps, special operations forces, and logistical support needed to conduct large-scale ground operations as seen in the 1991 Gulf War or the 2003 Iraq War." In fact, the U.S. deployed 450,000 ground troops during the 1991 Gulf War and 150,000 ground troops in the 2003 Iraq War.
MAGA Also Opposes Prolonged War... Political Burden Ahead of Midterm Elections
Within "MAGA" as well, opposition to a prolonged war is growing. They argue that this goes against the isolationist principle that was one of President Trump's campaign pledges.
Tucker Carlson, a prominent conservative commentator and representative MAGA supporter, appeared on ABC on March 1, immediately after the U.S. airstrikes, calling the U.S. operation "disgusting and evil." Megyn Kelly, a conservative journalist and former Fox News anchor, also stated on social media, "This war does not align with America First principles," and added, "I do not believe the soldiers who died during the operation died for America. I think they died for Iran or Israel," expressing a negative opinion.
Axios, a U.S. political media outlet, reported, "The MAGA base is showing division over the current war, and many continue to maintain a stance against overseas conflict. If the war ends quickly with a decisive victory, those who opposed it may soon forget, but if it takes a different turn, it could spark considerable anger among many MAGA supporters."
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