Iran threatens 'fully offensive' policy in Strait of Hormuz if US diplomacy fails

Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to "fully offensive" due to the deadlock in efforts to agree a permanent end to its war with the United States, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

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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.

Progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt. The conflict, launched by the US and Israel on February 28, shows no sign of ending. "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," the Iranian official said. Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed, Reuters reported.

Monday marked the deadline for a final deal under a memorandum of understanding agreed in June. The MoU aimed to end the war and covered issues such as Iran's nuclear program. However, the agreement quickly unraveled due to a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claims point 5 of the MoU gives it the right to manage the waterway, while Washington rejects this interpretation. Hostilities resumed when Tehran began firing on vessels attempting to sail through the waterway on an unapproved route.

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Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

US President Donald Trump stated on July 7 that the pact was "over." Tehran accuses Washington of consistently violating its commitments. "Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement's provisions must be implemented by the US. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US," the Iranian official told Reuters. Mediators would share Tehran's deadline with Washington and regional states.

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Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement's provisions must be implemented by the US. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US.

Both Iran and the United States have increased rhetoric. Trump warned Americans to prepare for continued high fuel prices and stated, "after we finish defeating Iran ... pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States." He also reiterated on his Truth Social platform that "The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon."

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The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon.