Iran Sets Weeks-Long Deadline for US to Honor Deal or Face Attack
Iran threatens escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and a military attack if the US does not fully implement the interim deal within weeks.
A senior Iranian official has issued a stark warning: if the United States does not fully implement the interim peace deal within a matter of weeks, Tehran will escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region, and is prepared to launch a military attack.
The official stated that the deadline is a precondition for any further negotiations with Washington. If diplomacy fails and the deadline passes, Iran would conduct a "timely and precise" military operation aimed at breaking the US naval blockade on the Islamic Republic.
Diplomatic efforts to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table under the June agreement have stalled in recent weeks. Iran's foreign minister has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US first returns to the deal, while the US Treasury Secretary has warned of unprecedented economic isolation for Iran.
"Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement's provisions must be implemented by the U.S.," the official said, adding that mediators would share details of Tehran's deadline with Washington and regional states.
The official indicated a strategic shift in Tehran's posture, moving from defence to offence, citing a loss of confidence in the merits of diplomacy with Washington. "It is a proven fact that the U.S. is not serious about a ceasefire and won't commit to any, so putting pressure on the enemy or relying on mediators in the hope of reaching a permanent ceasefire is not realistic," the official added.
The warning underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic track and raises the stakes for the US administration in the coming weeks.