Iran signals shift to offensive stance as Strait of Hormuz talks stall
A senior Iranian official said Tehran may escalate tensions if diplomacy fails to end hostilities with the United States and reopen Strait of Hormuz traffic.
Tehran, Iran. Iran has shifted from a defensive to a “fully offensive” policy because efforts to secure a permanent end to its conflict with the United States have reached a deadlock, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.
The official said Tehran was prepared to take military action against what it described as a US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.
Stalled negotiations
Progress towards peace talks and the resumption of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has halted, with no indication that the parties are moving towards ending the conflict, which Iran says was launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.
Monday was the deadline for Iran and the United States to reach a final agreement under a memorandum of understanding signed in June.
The June 17 memorandum established a 60-day period, extendable by mutual consent, for Washington and Tehran to agree on issues including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Dispute over waterway
The memorandum declared an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, but quickly broke down over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran said point five of the agreement gave it the right to manage the waterway, while Washington rejected that interpretation. Hostilities resumed after Tehran began firing at vessels it said were attempting to use an unapproved route through the strait.
US President Donald Trump said on July 7 that the agreement was “over”. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of violating its commitments.
Iranian deadline
The Iranian official said Iranian entities should prepare to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.
The official said Iran would carry out a “timely and precise” military attack to break the naval blockade if diplomatic efforts failed.
“Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement’s provisions must be implemented by the U.S. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the U.S.,” the official told Reuters.
The official added that mediators would convey Tehran’s deadline to Washington and regional states. Both Iran and the United States have intensified their rhetoric during the past week.
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