Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Iran threatens offensive in Hormuz as US peace talks stall
Iran and the United States are in a war.
The two countries tried to make a peace deal, but they could not agree.
A big part of the problem is a narrow waterway called the Strait of Hormuz, where many oil ships travel.
Iran says it has the right to manage that waterway.
The United States does not agree.
Now Iran says it may switch to a 'fully offensive' military plan if talks fail.
The US president, Donald Trump, said he will not extend the temporary ceasefire.
He also said he might declare the strait a US territory after the war.
Many countries are worried because the strait is very important for the world's oil supply.
People hope the two sides can find a peaceful answer.
Iran is preparing to shift to a 'fully offensive' military posture after efforts to negotiate a permanent end to its war with the US stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.
US President Donald Trump ruled out extending the interim ceasefire agreement and declared the pact 'over' on July 7.
The June 17 memorandum of understanding gave the US and Iran 60 days to reach a broader agreement, but it unravelled over a dispute about control and navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has set a deadline of several weeks for the US to implement all provisions of the previous agreement as a precondition for further negotiations.
Trump said he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz 'a territory of the United States' after defeating Iran and warned Americans to prepare for continued high fuel prices.
- Who
- Iran and the United States, including President Donald Trump and senior Iranian officials
- What
- Iran threatens to shift to a 'fully offensive' military posture and escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with the US fails
- When
- Monday, the day a final peace deal was expected under the June 17 memorandum; the war began on February 28
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region
- Why
- A dispute over control and navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz caused the peace agreement to unravel
Iran
United States
Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Iran
Iran says point 5 of the June memorandum gives it the right to manage the waterway, which it shares with Oman.
United States
Washington rejects that interpretation and disputes Iran's claim to manage the strategic waterway.
Ceasefire and peace talks
Iran
Iran says the US must implement all provisions of the agreement within a few weeks as a precondition for further negotiations.
United States
Trump ruled out extending the interim ceasefire and declared the pact 'over' on July 7.
Status of the strait
Iran
Iran says it already has laws governing its sovereign rights over the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.
United States
Trump says he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz 'a territory of the United States' after defeating Iran.
- Key development
- Iran threatens 'fully offensive' posture if US diplomacy fails
- Memorandum of understanding signed
- June 17
- Deadline for final deal
- Monday, 60 days after signing
- Disputed waterway
- Strait of Hormuz
- Share of global oil and LNG shipments
- About one-fifth before the war
- War start
- February 28, US and Israel launched attacks on Iran
- Trump's position
- Ruled out extending ceasefire; pact 'over' since July 7
- Iran's precondition
- US must implement all agreement provisions within weeks
Sources
Iran gives US ‘few weeks’ to implement ceasefire terms, threatens action over Strait of Hormuz
Iran threatens new offensive while US rules out extending ceasefire deal – ThePrint – ReutersFeed
Iran Threatens To Go On Offensive In Hormuz If Diplomacy With US Fails
