Iran to shift policy to 'fully offensive' as MoU with US expires - report

17th Aug 2026 15:12

(Sharecast News) - Iran has reportedly 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 US, as the memorandum between the two expired.

According to Reuters, which cited a senior Iranian official, progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with no sign that the warring parties are moving towards ending the conflict.

"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," an Iranian official told Reuters, adding that Tehran would conduct a "timely and precise" ​military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy failed.

Monday marked the deadline for Iran and the US to reach a final deal under a memorandum of understanding agreed in June and aimed at ending the war.

Signed on 17 June, the MoU set out a 60-day timeframe, extendable by mutual consent, by which Washington and Tehran were expected to reach an agreement that ​would cover broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear programme.

Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on ​his Truth Social platform: "The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon."