Iran sets deadline for US to lift naval blockade, warns it is shifting to attack posture

WASHINGTON, United States — An Iranian official said Tehran has set a deadline for the United States to implement a memorandum of understanding on lifting a naval blockade, according to Reuters. The official said Iran does not expect Washington to maintain the blockade indefinitely and will convey its timeline to the US and regional countries through mediators. The Iranian official said Tehran is prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader region if the diplomatic process fails. Iran's deadline calls on Washington to fully implement the memorandum within a few weeks. Tehran has concluded that pressuring the United States or relying on mediators is not a realistic path to a lasting agreement, the official said. As a result, Iran has decided to shift its policy entirely from defense to an offensive posture, the official added, without elaborating on specific operational plans.