Iran Warns It Will Break U.S. Naval Blockade if Talks Collapse
Reuters Exclusive: Tehran to Shift from Defense to "Full Offensive," Hormuz Strait May Become Flashpoint of Conflict
According to Reuters, Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States: if peaceful negotiations fail, Iran will break through the U.S. naval blockade. This statement was made by a senior Iranian official in an interview with Reuters.
The official further explained that if the U.S. fails to fully fulfill all terms of the interim peace agreement within several weeks, Iran will launch an attack.
Subsequently, the official revealed that due to the deadlock in negotiations, Tehran has decided to shift its defense policy from "defensive" to "comprehensive offensive."
He stated: "All Iranian institutions must prepare for escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and across the region, as Iran will make decisive decisions and take action under complex circumstances."
Previously, Arab TV reported that the ceasefire peace agreement originally set to expire on August 17 had been extended between the U.S. and Iran. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry claimed the agreement had lost all significance. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghai pointed out: "The contents outlined in the memorandum have not been implemented."
In February this year, the U.S. and Israel jointly launched a military operation against Iran. By mid-March, President Donald Trump declared the conflict "would not last long" and promised a swift end to hostilities. Subsequently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Washington had proactively "begged" for talks after the war had lasted 20 days.
On June 18, Iran and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding, but fighting soon resumed—Teheran accused the U.S. of failing to abide by the agreement's terms. Following this, Araghchi announced that Iran would not conduct direct talks with the U.S., but would only "exchange messages through intermediaries," emphasizing that peace efforts could not restart as long as Washington continued violating the memorandum's provisions.
Despite the tense situation, Trump still mentioned ongoing negotiations between the two sides, though he admitted the U.S. was only "halfheartedly" engaged. Prior to this, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had indicated that a ceasefire agreement lasting 30 to 60 days might be possible.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873835307362371/
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