Iran threatens new offensive as US rules out extending ceasefire deal

Iran is preparing to shift to a "fully offensive" military posture, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, as efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war with the United States have stalled. Washington has ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement, signaling a potential escalation of the conflict that began on February 28.

Progress towards peace talks and the resumption of oil tanker traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt. The official warned that "Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region," adding that Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" military attack to break the U.S. 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 had set a deadline of Monday for Iran and the U.S. to reach a final peace agreement. The agreement, which declared the "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts," quickly unraveled over a dispute concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is critical, as it handles a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas.

When asked by reporters if the U.S. sought to extend the interim agreement, President Donald Trump responded negatively. Meanwhile, reports emerged of back-channel discussions between Trump and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful entity within Iran's military and economy. Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reportedly acted as an intermediary, delivering a message to IRGC commander General Ahmad Vahidi. Trump's administration was reportedly concerned about whether Iranian negotiators truly represented the IRGC's interests.

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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.