Iran Sets U.S. Deadline, Threatens to Resume Attacks

A senior Iranian official warned Monday that Tehran is prepared to resume attacks against American targets unless Washington makes progress in stalled negotiations between the two countries.

Speaking to Reuters, the official said Iran has issued an ultimatum giving the United States "a final deadline of several weeks" to fully implement a memorandum of understanding reached between the two sides. "Tehran has decided to shift from a defensive posture to a fully offensive policy," the official stated, adding that "the U.S. and regional states will receive notification of the established timeline through intermediaries."

The Iranian source further threatened that "all Iranian entities are prepared to escalate attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint, and throughout the region if diplomacy fails. We will not wait indefinitely while the U.S. continues its naval blockade. Relying on intermediaries to reach a permanent agreement is unrealistic."

The latest threat is part of an escalating series of attacks and statements from Iran directed at the United States and President Donald Trump, following his administration's harsh rhetoric toward Tehran. Earlier Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson declared that his country has no intention of continuing talks, citing the expiration of a 60-day ceasefire period stipulated in the memorandum of understanding.

"The 60-day period was void from the outset and has no validity," the spokesperson claimed, asserting that Iran is unwilling to engage in diplomatic contacts under threat and currently has no plans to continue discussions "which never actually began, due to American violations of the memorandum from its very inception."

According to the Iranian official, the memorandum established a 60-day window for negotiations on two key issues: sanctions against Iran and what Tehran calls "the nuclear file." However, he charged that "the U.S. violated the content of the memorandum as early as June 28, shortly after it was signed. Therefore, no concrete negotiations on the matter commenced, and the 60-day period lacks any validity. Iran will not negotiate under fire and under pressure in an attempt to force our position."