A senior Iranian official told Reuters Monday that Tehran has decided to abandon its defensive military posture and shift to "full offensive policy" if negotiations with the United States fail to advance. The threat comes directly in response to President Trump's recent comments on Iran.
The Iranian official set a firm deadline: several weeks for full implementation of a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Tehran plans to communicate this timeline to the United States and regional states through mediators in the coming days.
If diplomacy collapses, Iran will escalate immediately and severely, the official said. "All Iranian bodies are prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and throughout the region if diplomacy fails."
The underlying message is clear: Iran will not indefinitely absorb military and economic pressure. "Iran will not wait while the United States continues the naval blockade without [a] time limit," the official stated.
Trump addressed the tensions in a Monday Fox News interview, demanding that Iran "raise a white flag and surrender" while emphasizing he has no fixed timetable for action. "I don't have timelines, I'm not in a hurry," Trump said. He added that U.S. midterm elections would not influence his Iran policy.
