Tehran's "Policy Shift" and Deadline for the US: "You Have a Few Weeks"
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Islamic Republic is shifting from a "defensive to a completely offensive" policy. He warned of potential escalation in the Strait of Hormuz if the US fails to fully implement the memorandum of understanding within weeks.
Against the backdrop of assessments in Israel that Tehran may attempt to expand the regional conflict, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that "Iran has decided to change its policy from defensive to completely offensive."
According to him, "all Iranian bodies will be prepared for an escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the region if diplomatic efforts fail." The official claimed that pressure on the US or reliance on mediators to reach a stable peace agreement are not realistic options. Iran has set a deadline of a few weeks for the US to fully implement the memorandum of understanding. He added that timelines will be conveyed to the Donald Trump administration and Gulf states via mediators: "The maritime blockade cannot continue indefinitely."
Meanwhile, Revolutionary Guards spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi commented to the Tasnim news agency regarding President Donald Trump's claim that the White House is holding direct talks with the organization:
"There are no talks between senior Revolutionary Guards officials and the Americans, and this lie by Trump is merely a fantasy born of illusions resulting from defeat and despair in the war."
Sources in Israel are identifying signs that the leadership in Tehran is changing its campaign concept. Iran may attempt to exert military and economic pressure on the US and Israel, including by damaging energy infrastructure and shipping lanes. There is a growing understanding in Tehran that the campaign is not limited to the military field. The maritime blockade and damage to oil export capabilities are weighing on the regime as the US continues to apply economic pressure.
According to recent Reuters reports, the administration of Donald Trump is considering intensifying pressure on Iran through additional sanctions against entities involved in oil exports and the financial system. The shift of fighting to the maritime arena is already evident, with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz decreasing sharply following attacks on vessels. A senior Israeli official assessed:
"It is precisely the economic pressure on Iran that may push it toward an offensive move. If Tehran concludes that the blockade endangers the regime's stability and its ability to fund security mechanisms, it may attempt to change the equation through regional escalation."
