Trump renews threat to attack Iran, Tehran vows prolonged conflict

US President Donald Trump has renewed his warning that the United States could launch further strikes against Iran, telling supporters at a campaign rally in Iowa that Washington might eventually have to deal Tehran “the hammer”.

Trump made the remarks on Sunday while addressing supporters ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, suggesting that he had so far held back from further military action in an effort to avoid additional casualties.

“And the only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can…But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer,” the 80-year-old president said.

Iran responded by warning that any fresh conflict with the United States could last longer than the previous round of fighting.

The warning followed Trump’s comments that he still had to “take care” of additional targets, according to reports.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran would not allow Washington to determine how or when a future conflict would end.

“A potential future war could last longer than previous conflict, and the American president would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion,” Akraminia said, according to Iranian state television.