17.08.2026 20:20
Iran has decided to shift from defensive policies to "fully aggressive" ones. An unnamed Iranian official stated that if diplomacy fails, Iran will launch a "timely and precise" attack, adding that Tehran has given the US a few weeks to fulfill the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between the parties.
While the US-Iran crisis continues, a striking statement came from the Tehran administration.
DECISION MADE TO MOVE FROM DEFENSE TO "FULLY OFFENSIVE" POLICIES
A senior unnamed Iranian official speaking to the Reuters news agency said Iran has decided to shift from defense-based policies to "fully offensive" policies.
The official, stating that the decision was made due to obstacles to reaching a lasting peace agreement in the ongoing conflict with the US, gave the message that Tehran is preparing to escalate tensions. The official said, "Iran will be ready to make decisions on difficult issues and act accordingly. Iranian entities must be ready to increase tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider regions."
The official stated that if diplomacy fails, Tehran will carry out a "timely and precise" attack to break the blockade maintained by the US military in the region.
"WASHINGTON GIVEN A FEW WEEKS"
The Iranian official said Washington has been given a few weeks to fulfill the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between the parties in June but reported to have been suspended shortly after due to mutual violations. The official said, "Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, the US must fulfill all the terms of the agreement. This is a precondition for the continuation of negotiations with the US."
It was noted that the deadline set by the Tehran administration would be communicated to the US and other countries in the Gulf region through countries mediating in the negotiations.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BETWEEN THE US AND IRAN
The US and Iran had agreed to declare a temporary ceasefire for a period of 60 days under the signed memorandum of understanding.
The parties were expected to work on a final peace agreement covering topics such as Iran's enriched uranium stocks, Tehran's nuclear program, and the restoration of navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz during this process.
However, while the Tehran administration argued that Article 5 of the memorandum gave Iran the right to manage the Strait of Hormuz, the US administration rejected those statements.
Iran accused the Washington administration of directing commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz to different routes instead of the safe routes determined in coordination with Iran, and began to carry out new attacks in the waterway. As a result, the conflicts temporarily escalated again.
In a statement made last month, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman İsmail Bekayi announced that the agreement had been suspended due to US violations.