Iranian press review: Political figures expect continued but limited confrontation with US

What Happened

Iranian political figures and media outlets have signaled an expectation that military confrontations with the United States will remain limited rather than escalating into a full-scale war. According to Khabar Online, multiple political figures, including former lawmaker Ali Motahari and conservative politician Mohsen Kouhkan, stated that neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to engage in a protracted conflict. Concurrently, the Tehran City Council is reviewing a proposal to mandate the construction of military-grade shelters in new buildings and the conversion of metro stations and parking facilities into emergency shelters, following reports of military engagements involving the United States and Israel since June 2025. Separately, analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi dismissed recent comments by Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to the Supreme Leader and former IRGC commander, regarding the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing his influence on national policy as minimal.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The discourse reflects a domestic Iranian effort to calibrate public expectations regarding the ongoing security standoff with the United States and Israel. The push for expanded civil defense infrastructure in Tehran suggests that local authorities are preparing for the possibility of sustained, albeit limited, military exchanges, while internal political debates highlight a divide between those advocating for direct confrontation and those favoring long-term strategic positioning.

Watch For

Monitor the Tehran City Council's legislative progress on the shelter mandate and any further official statements from the Iranian National Security Council regarding the scope of military posture in response to regional developments.