IRGC says Iran prepared for prolonged war but does not rule out negotiations

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Tuesday that it was prepared for a prolonged conflict with the United States while leaving open the possibility of negotiations if talks served Iran’s interests. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi told Iran’s state news agency IRNA that negotiations should not necessarily be interpreted as a step toward an immediate settlement or peace. “Negotiation does not mean reaching a settlement or peace; it is, in fact, another phase of the war,” Mohebbi said. He argued that diplomacy and military action could both form part of Iran’s broader confrontation with its adversaries, depending on the country’s strategic interests. Mohebbi said the IRGC was prepared for a long-term war, but stressed that such preparations did not […]