Iran appears prepared for a prolonged confrontation with the United States and may rely on a war-of-attrition strategy. This assessment was offered by Su Xiaohui, director of the Institute for Studies of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies.

She pointed out that the current escalation began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran and have continued striking targets on Iranian territory. Tehran has responded with its own attacks. At the same time, Washington’s public messaging about the duration and scope of the campaign has remained inconsistent.

According to Su Xiaohui, American officials initially suggested the operation could last around four to five weeks. Later, however, they acknowledged that it might extend as far as September. Such discrepancies, she believes, indicate that decision-makers in the United States are still debating their next steps and have yet to settle on a clear long-term strategy.

In her view, the operation has already begun to backfire for Washington, which now faces the need to assess potentially far-reaching consequences.

The analyst also linked Iran’s political developments to its readiness for a drawn-out conflict. The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, she argued, can be interpreted as a signal that Tehran is preparing for a long struggle with the United States.

Even if a war of attrition ultimately damages Iran itself, Su Xiaohui believes the country’s leadership is making one message unmistakably clear: Tehran does not intend to allow the United States to achieve its objectives or claim a decisive victory.