Iran sets weeks deadline for US to honour pact, warns of military action
Iran has issued a weeks-long deadline for the United States to fully implement an interim peace deal, warning of military action if the deadline passes, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if the U.S. does not meet the deadline and diplomatic efforts fail, Tehran would conduct a “timely and precise” military strike to break the U.S. naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. The official added that Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.
Diplomatic efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to talks under a June agreement have stalled in recent weeks. Iran’s Foreign Minister has said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the U.S. first returns to the deal, while the U.S. 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. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the U.S.,” the official told Reuters. Mediators would share details of Tehran’s deadline with Washington and regional states, the official added.
The official said Tehran was shifting its policy from defence to offence as it was losing 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 said.
The remarks signal a hardening of tone from Tehran and underscore the fragility of the diplomatic track between the two countries. The June agreement, which was intended to de-escalate tensions, has yet to yield tangible results. Both sides have accused each other of not honouring commitments. Iran has repeatedly called for the lifting of sanctions and the end of the naval blockade, while the U.S. has demanded full compliance with the terms of the deal.
Mediators, who have been shuttling between Tehran and Washington, are expected to intensify their efforts in the coming days to prevent the situation from spiralling into a military confrontation. The official’s reference to a “timely and precise” attack suggests that Iran is prepared to use calculated military action rather than an all-out conflict, but the risk of miscalculation remains high.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world’s oil passing through it. Any disruption could have wide-ranging economic consequences. The area has been a flashpoint in previous Iran-U.S. tensions. Any closure or disruption would lead to a spike in energy prices and could trigger a broader regional conflict.
There has been no immediate response from the U.S. government to the Iranian official’s statement. The situation remains fluid, with regional countries closely watching the developments. The remarks by the senior official may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Iranian government, but they signal a clear warning to Washington that time is running out for diplomacy.
