As tensions spike between the U.S. and Iran, new reports suggest Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is preparing for a war of endurance — not immediate victory. According to reports, Tehran’s strategy hinges on surviving an initial American strike, retaliating against U.S. assets in the Gulf, and betting that domestic political pressure weakens Donald Trump’s resolve. With ballistic launchers positioned near the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. carrier strike groups deployed in force, the question is no longer whether escalation is possible — but whether Washington has fully calculated Tehran’s long-game deterrence doctrine.