Iran warns of ‘fully offensive’ shift as US talks stall

Iran signals intention to adopt a more aggressive military stance as peace negotiations with the United States hit a dead end, a senior Iranian official revealed to Reuters on Monday. This comes after Washington dismissed the prospect of extending a temporary ceasefire deal. The stalemate in peace talks and the halt in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have left no indication that the belligerents are moving towards ending the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

Iran's official warned that Tehran would be prepared to take decisive military action if diplomacy fails, including a precise strike to break the U.S. naval blockade. The 60-day deadline for the U.S. and Iran to finalize a comprehensive agreement, as outlined in a June memorandum of understanding, has expired without any progress.

The United States, led by President Donald Trump, has vowed to maintain its military posture and declared that the Strait of Hormuz would be considered U.S. territory, should Iran provoke a conflict. Meanwhile, the ongoing hostilities are causing global oil prices to skyrocket, with crude oil futures surpassing $90 per barrel, reflecting fears of supply disruptions and wider regional instability.