Iran threatens to go 'fully offensive' as negotiations with U.S. reach deadlock: report

Tehran threatens to carry out a "timely and precise" military attack to break the U.S. blockade on the strait if diplomacy failed, the official said.

By Kevin Killough

Published: August 17, 2026 1:59pm

Updated: August 17, 2026 2:03pm

Iran is planning to shift its policy from a defensive strategy to one that is "fully offensive," as efforts to reach a permanent end to its war with the United States fail to move beyond the current deadlock.

An Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that the country was prepared to "escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region."

Tehran would also carry out a "timely and precise" military attack to break the U.S. blockade on the strait if diplomacy failed, the official said.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News on Monday that Iran "should put up the white flag of surrender."

The U.S. an Iran agreed to a memorandum of understanding on June 17 that would open the Strait of Hormuz and provide a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran while a lasting peace deal could be negotiated. The deal expires Monday.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said no extension of the MOU would be considered, according to Iran's state-controlled media outlet, Tasnim.