Washington, April 12 Democratic Senator Mark Warner warned on Sunday that the US faces a prolonged and uncertain conflict with Iran, as divisions sharpened in Washington over the next phase of the war following failed negotiations.
"I don't see how, 40-plus days into this war, that we are safer," Warner said in an interview on CNN, casting doubt on claims of progress and urging clarity on the US administration's strategy.
Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, questioned the feasibility of securing Iran's enriched uranium -- a central US objective.
He said the operation would require "10,000 troops on the ground guarding a perimeter", along with specialised forces.
He also flagged the mounting cost of the conflict, noting that US forces were using expensive interceptors against low-cost Iranian drones while key threats remained intact.
On the proposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Warner was sceptical.
"I don't understand how blockading the Strait of Hormuz is going to somehow push the Iranians into opening it," he said on CNN, warning of prolonged disruption to global energy markets.
Republicans offered a sharply different view.
Senator Ron Johnson said the US must "make sure that Iran can never produce a nuclear weapon" and argued Washington needed to "finish the job", speaking on ABC News.
"It could take a long time," Johnson said, acknowledging the complexity of the conflict but insisting that preventing a nuclear-armed Iran remained non-negotiable.
Military leaders struck a more measured tone, highlighting tactical gains but cautioning against overstating success.
Retired General Joseph Votel, former Head of US Central Command, told ABC News that American forces had achieved "substantial dismantlement of Iran's war-making capability", but said the broader outcome would depend on political and diplomatic efforts.
"War is a political state... it involves more than just the military," Votel said, underlining the need for a coordinated strategy beyond battlefield operations.
He warned that any mission to seize Iran's nuclear material would be a "significant operation", requiring sustained troop deployment, air cover and logistical support over several days or longer.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the conflict.
US naval forces have begun clearing mines in an effort to reopen the critical shipping lane, but officials say restoring confidence among commercial vessels will take time.
The war, now in its seventh week, has already disrupted global energy supplies and pushed up prices, raising concerns about a broader economic fallout.
The confrontation marks one of the most serious US-Iran crises in decades.
Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Washington has sought to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons through a mix of sanctions, diplomacy and military pressure.
The latest breakdown in talks underscores the absence of a clear resolution, with both sides holding firm on core demands and the risk of escalation still high.
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