Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails
Efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war have stalled as Washington rules out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement.
DUBAI: Iran has declared it will adopt a fully defensive military stance if diplomatic attempts to end the ongoing war with the US fail, according to a senior Iranian official. This comes as peace talks have stalled and oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains halted, with the US ruling out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, has resulted in thousands of casualties, primarily in Iran and Lebanon. Iran has retaliated by bombing US military bases and infrastructure in various countries, including Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iran and the US set a 60-day deadline for reaching a comprehensive deal on Iran's nuclear program and ending US sanctions.
However, disputes over the Strait of Hormuz have led to the breakdown of the agreement, with Iran asserting its right to manage the strait while the US rejects this interpretation. The official added that Iran would make timely and precise military decisions if diplomacy failed, and that the US and regional states would be informed of Tehran's deadline.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
