Iranian Adviser Tells Tehran to Play the Long Game and Outlast Trump Until 2029

A senior adviser linked to Iran's parliament has urged Tehran to avoid both open war and a deal with Donald Trump, arguing that the best strategy is to wait out the US president's term. Majid Shakeri, an adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has appeared in clips shared by Iranian media saying Tehran should not expect an agreement with Trump.

'Trump will not reach an agreement with us,' Shakeri reportedly said. 'We are going along with him until his term ends.'

That would mean holding the line until 20 January 2029, when Trump's current term is set to end. The message reflects a harder Iranian view that negotiations with Washington would only serve Trump politically while weakening Tehran's position.

'Neither War Nor Peace'

Shakeri expanded on the argument in a post on X, framing Iran's approach as a long-term strategic contest rather than a choice between surrender and confrontation.

'The path to victory in this war is neither just fighting nor just reaching an understanding,' he wrote in Persian. He said the correct approach was 'managing the process of neither war nor peace, up to the point of victory.'

In his view, publicly confirming negotiations with the US would be a mistake. The better strategy, he suggested, is to maintain denial, ambiguity and patience. That stance goes several steps beyond ordinary Iranian factional politics, Shakeri argued, because domestic debates often treat war and peace as identity questions rather than tools of statecraft.

Tehran Denies Direct US Talks

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also said Monday that no direct negotiations are taking place between Iran and the US. He said existing contacts were limited to messages passed through intermediaries.

Baqaei added that Tehran was focused on talks with Oman over the final destination of a emporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. 'Management and security of the Strait of Hormuz is Iran's responsibility,' he said.

Iran has tied any reopening of the waterway to major demands, including reconstruction funding, sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets. Tehran's reported conditions also include $300 billion (£221.7 billion) in compensation and the withdrawal of US forces.

Oman Route Becomes Main Channel

Baqaei said Iran and Oman were discussing a 'middle and safe route' to replace previous traffic lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. That route would remain temporary until a new traffic separation plan was agreed.

'The main goal of the ongoing diplomatic negotiations is to reach a lasting understanding with Oman to establish complete security in this vital waterway,' he said. The framing allows Iran to say it is negotiating over shipping security without acknowledging direct political talks with Washington.

Trump Says US Is 'Semi-Negotiating'

Trump offered a different version of events Sundaytelling Axios that the US was 'semi-negotiating' with Iran.

"We are low-keying it,' Trump said. 'We are only semi-negotiating with them.' He claimed Iran was under severe economic pressure, citing inflation and financial strain. He also said the US naval blockade had worsened Tehran's problems.

'It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game,' Trump said. But if Shakeri's remarks reflect the thinking in Tehran, Iran may be playing a different game entirely: keeping the Strait under pressure, avoiding formal talks and denying Trump the agreement he wants before 2029.