End of the Road: Why Iranian Leaders Believe War with the US is Inevitable
Internal reports from Tehran reveal a regime bracing for an unavoidable war with the United States, even as they publicly refuse to negotiate on their massive ballistic missile program.
A European official with close contacts to Iran's leadership revealed that many in the regime now view military confrontation with the United States as inevitable, seeing ongoing talks as merely a way to delay the inevitable clash. The source stated that senior figures believe the regime has reached the end of the road and knows it.
The official explained that senior Iranian decision-makers believe current negotiations can at best postpone American military action but cannot prevent it forever. The regime's assessment reflects deep pessimism about avoiding war, even as diplomatic channels remain active.
This perception comes amid ongoing nuclear talks in Oman and repeated U.S. threats of force if Iran does not accept strict limits on its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and regional proxy support. The official's comments indicate that parts of Iran's leadership see escalation as unavoidable regardless of diplomatic progress.
Iran has consistently warned that any U.S. or Israeli strike would trigger a broad regional response, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei previously stating that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war. Military commanders have echoed this line, insisting any limited attack would be treated as the start of full-scale war.
The European source's disclosure highlights growing fatalism inside Tehran, where some officials appear to believe the regime's current path leaves no realistic exit from eventual confrontation with the United States.