Every side is talking about how the Iran war ends. Almost everything they are doing suggests they are preparing for it to continue. President Donald Trump says the fighting could end “immediately after” America's November midterm elections. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran and its regional axis are approaching collapse.&nbsp;Yet the battlefield is sending a very different message.&nbsp;Iran is still resisting. The Houthis remain capable of opening another front of pressure around vital shipping routes. Hezbollah, while badly weakened, has not disappeared. And Washington is now warning Tehran over reported activity at Pickaxe Mountain, raising the possibility of another major strike even as Trump predicts the conflict is approaching its conclusion.&nbsp;The contradiction is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.&nbsp;Netanyahu has offered one of the most confident assessments yet of where the war is heading, declaring that defeating the Iranian regime is now within reach and predicting that Tehran's wider axis will ultimately collapse.&nbsp;There is evidence behind some of Israel's confidence.&nbsp;Hamas has been severely degraded after years of war. Hezbollah has been battered militarily and politically. Iran's regional network has suffered blows that would have seemed extraordinary only a few years ago.&nbsp;But weakened is not the same as defeated.&nbsp;Hezbollah retains military capabilities. The Houthis remain capable of threatening Saudi Arabia and maritime traffic around one of the world's most important shipping corridors. Recent attacks have again demonstrated how quickly instability can spread beyond the immediate US Iran battlefield.The axis may be damaged. Declaring it dead is another matter.&nbsp;Trump, meanwhile, has attached an extraordinary political timetable to the conflict.&nbsp;He says the war could end immediately after the November midterms, arguing that Tehran is desperately attempting to hold out long enough to influence the American election.&nbsp;That assertion inevitably raises another question: why should the military endurance of Iran suddenly expire when Americans finish voting?&nbsp;The timing matters because the war is no longer only a foreign policy problem for the White House. Disruption across the Gulf has helped drive energy prices higher, increasing economic and political pressure at home as Republicans fight to retain control of Congress.&nbsp;Trump is therefore selling two messages simultaneously: America is winning, and Americans will not have to endure the consequences for much longer.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/15-000-police-200-paramilitary-companies-deployed-routes-secured-hotels-fortified-as-delhi-gears-up-for-brics-summit-1789056700020">15,000 police, 200 paramilitary companies deployed, routes secured, hotels fortified as Delhi gears up for BRICS Summit</a>&nbsp;But his own threats complicate that promise.&nbsp;Attention is now turning to Pickaxe Mountain, near Iran's damaged Natanz nuclear complex.Trump has warned Tehran against further activity there, threatening a powerful American response if Iran crosses Washington's line.&nbsp;It is a remarkable juxtaposition.&nbsp;One moment, the president predicts that Iran can barely hold out beyond November. The next, he is publicly contemplating another significant military strike.&nbsp;The language of conclusion is colliding with the mechanics of escalation. Iran, meanwhile, is hardly speaking like a government preparing to surrender.&nbsp;Tehran has attached sweeping conditions to ending the conflict, including demands involving Lebanon, Yemen, frozen Iranian assets and non interference in its nuclear and missile programmes.&nbsp;Several are unacceptable to Israel and Washington in their present form. That leaves diplomacy theoretically possible, but politically and strategically distant.&nbsp;And then there is the timeline reportedly being discussed behind closed doors in Washington.&nbsp;The Wall Street Journal reports that senior Trump advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have discussed with the president the possibility that Tehran could withstand American pressure far longer than publicly suggested, potentially stretching the conflict through the remainder of Trump's presidency.&nbsp;That means Washington may effectively be operating with two clocks.&nbsp;The public clock runs to November.&nbsp;The strategic clock could run to January 2029.&nbsp;Perhaps neither prediction will prove correct. Wars have an unpleasant habit of destroying the timetables politicians construct for them.&nbsp;But the widening gulf between rhetoric and reality matters.&nbsp;Netanyahu says Iran's axis is approaching collapse. Trump says Tehran cannot hold out much longer. Yet Iranian resistance continues, regional actors remain active, shipping routes remain vulnerable, and Washington is threatening another target buried beneath an Iranian mountain.&nbsp;Six months into this conflict, perhaps the most revealing question is no longer who says they are winning.&nbsp;It is this:&nbsp;If Iran is close to defeat, its axis close to collapse and the war close to ending, why does everyone appear to be preparing for what comes next?

Despite Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu predicting Iran's defeat and the war's end, continued Iranian resistance, regional attacks and threats of further US strikes suggest the conflict could continue well beyond the November midterms.

Every side is talking about how the Iran war ends. Almost everything they are doing suggests they are preparing for it to continue. President Donald Trump says the fighting could end “immediately after” America's November midterm elections. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran and its regional axis are approaching collapse. Yet the battlefield is sending a very different message. Iran is still resisting. The Houthis remain capable of opening another front of pressure around vital shipping routes. Hezbollah, while badly weakened, has not disappeared. And Washington is now warning Tehran over reported activity at Pickaxe Mountain, raising the possibility of another major strike even as Trump predicts the conflict is approaching its conclusion. The contradiction is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Netanyahu has offered one of the most confident assessments yet of where the war is heading, declaring that defeating the Iranian regime is now within reach and predicting that Tehran's wider axis will ultimately collapse. There is evidence behind some of Israel's confidence. Hamas has been severely degraded after years of war. Hezbollah has been battered militarily and politically. Iran's regional network has suffered blows that would have seemed extraordinary only a few years ago. But weakened is not the same as defeated. Hezbollah retains military capabilities. The Houthis remain capable of threatening Saudi Arabia and maritime traffic around one of the world's most important shipping corridors. Recent attacks have again demonstrated how quickly instability can spread beyond the immediate US Iran battlefield. The axis may be damaged. Declaring it dead is another matter. Trump, meanwhile, has attached an extraordinary political timetable to the conflict. He says the war could end immediately after the November midterms, arguing that Tehran is desperately attempting to hold out long enough to influence the American election. That assertion inevitably raises another question: why should the military endurance of Iran suddenly expire when Americans finish voting? The timing matters because the war is no longer only a foreign policy problem for the White House. Disruption across the Gulf has helped drive energy prices higher, increasing economic and political pressure at home as Republicans fight to retain control of Congress. Trump is therefore selling two messages simultaneously: America is winning, and Americans will not have to endure the consequences for much longer. Also Read: 15,000 police, 200 paramilitary companies deployed, routes secured, hotels fortified as Delhi gears up for BRICS Summit But his own threats complicate that promise. Attention is now turning to Pickaxe Mountain, near Iran's damaged Natanz nuclear complex. Trump has warned Tehran against further activity there, threatening a powerful American response if Iran crosses Washington's line. It is a remarkable juxtaposition. One moment, the president predicts that Iran can barely hold out beyond November. The next, he is publicly contemplating another significant military strike. The language of conclusion is colliding with the mechanics of escalation. Iran, meanwhile, is hardly speaking like a government preparing to surrender. Tehran has attached sweeping conditions to ending the conflict, including demands involving Lebanon, Yemen, frozen Iranian assets and non interference in its nuclear and missile programmes. Several are unacceptable to Israel and Washington in their present form. That leaves diplomacy theoretically possible, but politically and strategically distant. And then there is the timeline reportedly being discussed behind closed doors in Washington. The Wall Street Journal reports that senior Trump advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have discussed with the president the possibility that Tehran could withstand American pressure far longer than publicly suggested, potentially stretching the conflict through the remainder of Trump's presidency. That means Washington may effectively be operating with two clocks. The public clock runs to November. The strategic clock could run to January 2029. Perhaps neither prediction will prove correct. Wars have an unpleasant habit of destroying the timetables politicians construct for them. But the widening gulf between rhetoric and reality matters. Netanyahu says Iran's axis is approaching collapse. Trump says Tehran cannot hold out much longer. Yet Iranian resistance continues, regional actors remain active, shipping routes remain vulnerable, and Washington is threatening another target buried beneath an Iranian mountain. Six months into this conflict, perhaps the most revealing question is no longer who says they are winning. It is this: If Iran is close to defeat, its axis close to collapse and the war close to ending, why does everyone appear to be preparing for what comes next?

Despite Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu predicting Iran's defeat and the war's end, continued Iranian resistance, regional attacks and threats of further US strikes suggest the conflict could continue well beyond the November midterms.

Words of victory, plans for war: The dangerous contradiction over Iran | Race to Power

A Financial Times report is claiming that Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles under a programme codenamed ‘C430L’. The multiyear programme began in 2023, claimed the report, which cited leaked Russian communications, travel documents and defence patent analysis. The programme allegedly involves Russian missile specialists, technical exchanges and assistance with a ramjet propulsion system that could allow missiles to travel at several times the speed of sound, the FT investigative report published on Tuesday (Sep 1) said.<h2>How C430L began</h2>According to the report, the defence programme was arranged by Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport in coordination with NPO Mashinostroyenia, which is a Russian design bureau sanctioned by the US since 2014.Russian arms-export officials and senior NPO Mashinostroyenia engineers repeatedly travelled to Iran before a formal agreement was signed with Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics in November 2023, said the report.Senior NPO engineers with expertise in cruise missiles and air-breathing propulsion, including a specialist in supersonic ramjet technology were involved, it claimed.<h2>Supersonic missile for Iran? The ramjet technology&nbsp;</h2>Ramjet engines use a technology specifically designed for supersonic speeds. A ramjet propulsion system is at the centre of the C430L programme. Unlike conventional rocket propulsion, a ramjet uses the missile’s forward speed to compress incoming air before combustion, allowing sustained high-speed flight within the atmosphere.Military experts told FT this tech was almost certainly for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. If developed, these weapons could threaten US aircraft carriers, warships and other military assets in the Middle East.Ramjet tech is covted for long by Iran, which built and flight-tested it. But the FT report said there is no evidence that a fully Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile has entered operational service.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iranian-president-masoud-pezeshkian-asks-pm-narendra-modi-to-use-india-s-influence-to-end-west-asia-war-1788179170273">Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asks PM Narendra Modi to use India’s influence to end West Asia war</a><h2>The alleged Russian technical assistance to Iran</h2>By 2025, the NPO received extensive Iranian technical material relating to the ramjet system.The Russian engineers who examined data from an Iranian flight test enquired about fuel-system changes, combustion stability, air intakes and engine nozzles. The correspondence suggests Russian specialists were not simply transferring designs but were helping Iranian engineers identify technical problems and improve an already tested propulsion system, claimed the FT report. It said Rosoboronexport in 2025 proposed sending about 24 Russian specialists to Iran for technical consultations linked to Tehran’s responses to the Russian questions about the flight-test data.C430L remained active amid US-Iran war. Russian officials were preparing technical reports for Tehran while both sides discussed a further phase of cooperation amid the US-Iran conflict this year. In June, a letter from Rosoboronexport allegedly showed negotiations continuing over elements of that next phase, but it's not clear if that has begun.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-war-irgc-strike-claim-raises-questions-as-pentagon-cracks-deepen-1788288595083/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-war-irgc-strike-claim-raises-questions-as-pentagon-cracks-deepen-1788288595083/embed</a><h2>Why the ramjet technology matters for Iran</h2>A reliable ramjet could give Iran the foundation to build several generations of high-speed cruise missiles rather than simply acquire one finished weapon. Russian expertise could be particularly valuable because ramjet development is technically difficult, FT cited Fabian Hinz of Conflict Armament Research as saying. “Getting a 60-year-old engineer to fly over and problem-solve, using their experience, is hugely valuable.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-retaliatory-strikes-with-missiles-and-drones-iranian-media-1788294861231">Iran launches retaliatory strikes with missiles and drones; Trump warns of ‘much harder’ attack</a><h2>Russia-Iran military partnership is growing</h2>C430L fits into a broader pattern of Russia-Iran military cooperation. During the Ukraine war, Iran supplied Russia with drone technology, while Russia provided Iran with military and intelligence assistance during the latter's conflict with Israel and US.Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the two nations' cooperation during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek.Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow was “trying to give you the help you need in this difficult period” and was “supplying you with the goods you need”. He did not mention what assistance or goods, and his remarks came the same day as the FT report.There has been no official confirmation of the C430L allegations made in the FT report. There is no concrete evidence that a Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile is currently operational with Iran.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. &nbsp;

An FT investigation report has alleged that Russia secretly helped Iran develop ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missiles. The programme codenamed C430L, could give Iran the capability to target US warships, as per the report

A Financial Times report is claiming that Russia has been secretly helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles under a programme codenamed ‘C430L’. The multiyear programme began in 2023, claimed the report, which cited leaked Russian communications, travel documents and defence patent analysis. The programme allegedly involves Russian missile specialists, technical exchanges and assistance with a ramjet propulsion system that could allow missiles to travel at several times the speed of sound, the FT investigative report published on Tuesday (Sep 1) said. How C430L began According to the report, the defence programme was arranged by Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport in coordination with NPO Mashinostroyenia, which is a Russian design bureau sanctioned by the US since 2014. Russian arms-export officials and senior NPO Mashinostroyenia engineers repeatedly travelled to Iran before a formal agreement was signed with Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics in November 2023, said the report. Senior NPO engineers with expertise in cruise missiles and air-breathing propulsion, including a specialist in supersonic ramjet technology were involved, it claimed. Supersonic missile for Iran? The ramjet technology Ramjet engines use a technology specifically designed for supersonic speeds. A ramjet propulsion system is at the centre of the C430L programme. Unlike conventional rocket propulsion, a ramjet uses the missile’s forward speed to compress incoming air before combustion, allowing sustained high-speed flight within the atmosphere. Military experts told FT this tech was almost certainly for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. If developed, these weapons could threaten US aircraft carriers, warships and other military assets in the Middle East. Ramjet tech is covted for long by Iran, which built and flight-tested it. But the FT report said there is no evidence that a fully Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile has entered operational service. Also read: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asks PM Narendra Modi to use India’s influence to end West Asia war The alleged Russian technical assistance to Iran By 2025, the NPO received extensive Iranian technical material relating to the ramjet system. The Russian engineers who examined data from an Iranian flight test enquired about fuel-system changes, combustion stability, air intakes and engine nozzles. The correspondence suggests Russian specialists were not simply transferring designs but were helping Iranian engineers identify technical problems and improve an already tested propulsion system, claimed the FT report. It said Rosoboronexport in 2025 proposed sending about 24 Russian specialists to Iran for technical consultations linked to Tehran’s responses to the Russian questions about the flight-test data. C430L remained active amid US-Iran war. Russian officials were preparing technical reports for Tehran while both sides discussed a further phase of cooperation amid the US-Iran conflict this year. In June, a letter from Rosoboronexport allegedly showed negotiations continuing over elements of that next phase, but it's not clear if that has begun. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-war-irgc-strike-claim-raises-questions-as-pentagon-cracks-deepen-1788288595083/embed Why the ramjet technology matters for Iran A reliable ramjet could give Iran the foundation to build several generations of high-speed cruise missiles rather than simply acquire one finished weapon. Russian expertise could be particularly valuable because ramjet development is technically difficult, FT cited Fabian Hinz of Conflict Armament Research as saying. “Getting a 60-year-old engineer to fly over and problem-solve, using their experience, is hugely valuable.” Also read: Iran launches retaliatory strikes with missiles and drones; Trump warns of ‘much harder’ attack Russia-Iran military partnership is growing C430L fits into a broader pattern of Russia-Iran military cooperation. During the Ukraine war, Iran supplied Russia with drone technology, while Russia provided Iran with military and intelligence assistance during the latter's conflict with Israel and US. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the two nations' cooperation during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek. Putin told Pezeshkian that Moscow was “trying to give you the help you need in this difficult period” and was “supplying you with the goods you need”. He did not mention what assistance or goods, and his remarks came the same day as the FT report. There has been no official confirmation of the C430L allegations made in the FT report. There is no concrete evidence that a Russian-assisted supersonic cruise missile is currently operational with Iran. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

An FT investigation report has alleged that Russia secretly helped Iran develop ramjet-powered supersonic cruise missiles. The programme codenamed C430L, could give Iran the capability to target US warships, as per the report

Inside C430L: The alleged secret Russian mission to help Iran with supersonic missiles

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday (Apr 27) blamed the United States for the failure of peace talks in Pakistan. He made the remarks after arriving in Saint Petersburg for the scheduled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Araghchi also stressed that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important issue as tensions continue to flare in West Asia, with the US and Iran ramping up their blockade in the world’s most strategic waterway.“The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.He added that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue.”While an Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan earlier to hold high-level Pakistani officials as part of their efforts in ongoing mediation of the war, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that no meeting was planned to take place between Iran and the US.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he had cancelled Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s trip to Pakistan for the peace talks after being unimpressed with Iran’s position. The tensions in West Asia continue to rise amid a fragile ceasefire, with uncertainty looming over peace negotiations.<h2>Araghchi to meet Putin</h2>The Iranian foreign minister is set to hold talks with Putin. After arriving in Russia, he noted that Tehran and Moscow have always held consultations on various issues.“As you see, we have always held close consultations with Russia on a wide range of issues, particularly regional ones, and also held constant bilateral talks,” he said in a video posted on his Telegram channel.Speaking about talks in Pakistan, Araghchi said, “We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan… The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent [meetings] and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on.”He also mentioned the talks held in Oman, saying that “Oman is a friendly country that is close to us; it has taken a very good stance in the war… We and Oman are the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz so we needed to hold consultations on the matter. The safe passage of ships through the strait is an important global issue and as the two countries that control the strait, we and Oman need to maintain close coordination to ensure our mutual interests.”Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran FM Abbas Araghchi blamed the US for failed Pakistan peace talks, citing excessive demands. He also stressed the importance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday (Apr 27) blamed the United States for the failure of peace talks in Pakistan. He made the remarks after arriving in Saint Petersburg for the scheduled talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Araghchi also stressed that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important issue as tensions continue to flare in West Asia, with the US and Iran ramping up their blockade in the world’s most strategic waterway. “The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. He added that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue.” While an Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan earlier to hold high-level Pakistani officials as part of their efforts in ongoing mediation of the war, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that no meeting was planned to take place between Iran and the US. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he had cancelled Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s trip to Pakistan for the peace talks after being unimpressed with Iran’s position. The tensions in West Asia continue to rise amid a fragile ceasefire, with uncertainty looming over peace negotiations. Araghchi to meet Putin The Iranian foreign minister is set to hold talks with Putin. After arriving in Russia, he noted that Tehran and Moscow have always held consultations on various issues. “As you see, we have always held close consultations with Russia on a wide range of issues, particularly regional ones, and also held constant bilateral talks,” he said in a video posted on his Telegram channel. Speaking about talks in Pakistan, Araghchi said, “We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan… The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent [meetings] and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on.” He also mentioned the talks held in Oman, saying that “Oman is a friendly country that is close to us; it has taken a very good stance in the war… We and Oman are the two coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz so we needed to hold consultations on the matter. The safe passage of ships through the strait is an important global issue and as the two countries that control the strait, we and Oman need to maintain close coordination to ensure our mutual interests.” Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran FM Abbas Araghchi blamed the US for failed Pakistan peace talks, citing excessive demands. He also stressed the importance of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions.

‘Excessive demands’: Iran FM Araghchi blames US for Pakistan talks failure ahead of meeting with Putin

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Words of victory, plans for war: The dangerous contradiction over Iran | Race to Power

C430L: The alleged Russian mission to help Iran with supersonic missiles

‘Excessive demands’: Iran FM Araghchi blames US for Pakistan talks failure