Iran threatens fresh offensive as US talks stall

Iran intends to shift to a "fully offensive" military posture, citing stalled negotiations for a permanent end to the war with the United States. Washington has indicated it will not extend a temporary ceasefire agreement.

Progress toward peace talks and the resumption of oil tanker traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz has ceased. This threatens to prolong the conflict initiated by the US and Israel with attacks on Iran on February 28.

"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," a senior Iranian official stated. The official added that Tehran would launch a "timely and precise" military strike to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

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Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions.

A memorandum of understanding signed in June to end the war had set a deadline for a final peace agreement. The agreement, which declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts," quickly faltered over a dispute concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy transport.

US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the US was not seeking to extend the interim agreement. In a potential diplomatic development, reports suggest Trump has initiated back-channel discussions with the IRGC, a powerful entity controlling significant portions of Iran's military and economy. Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reportedly conveyed a message to IRGC commander General Ahmad Vahidi through an intermediary. Trump later confirmed this report in an interview. The Trump administration had concerns about whether Iranian negotiators truly represented the IRGC, especially as General Vahidi emerged as a pivotal figure. Vahidi reportedly affirmed his alignment with the Iranian negotiators. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, described the conversations between the US government and various Iranian governmental bodies as "probably more robust than it's maybe ever been."

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I can't go into the details of it, but I will say that the conversations between the US government and different areas of the Iranian government at all areas is probably more robust than it's maybe ever been.