Iran gives US 'few weeks' to honour ceasefire terms, threatens action over Hormuz

The US-Iran ceasefire was supposed to open the door to a permanent end to the war. Under a memorandum signed on June 17, Washington and Tehran agreed to stop military operations and begin negotiations on a final deal. The agreement gave the two sides a maximum of 60 days to work towards that final settlement. It also called for the US to end its naval blockade of Iran within 30 days and for commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to gradually resume. Iran, meanwhile, was to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait.

But the truce soon began to unravel. The US accused Iran of violating the agreement after Iranian forces attacked commercial vessels attempting to transit the strait. Washington responded with fresh military strikes, while President Donald Trump declared the deal "over" in July. The 60-day negotiating window has now expired today without a final deal. Instead of a breakthrough, the two sides remain locked in disputes over Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions and control of the strategic waterway.

Now, Tehran is giving Washington only "a few weeks" to implement the terms of the ceasefire. Iran has also warned that it could take military action in the strait if diplomacy fails. A senior Iranian official told news agency Reuters on Monday that Tehran has shifted from a defensive posture to a "fully offensive" one as efforts to secure a permanent end to the war remain deadlocked.

"Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions," the official told Reuters. Tehran would launch a "timely and precise" military attack to break US naval blockade if diplomatic efforts fail, the official added.

TEHRAN SETS A 'FEW WEEKS' DEADLINE

The Iranian official said Washington now has only a short window to fulfil the commitments outlined in an earlier understanding between the two countries.

"Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement's provisions must be implemented by the US This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US," the official said.

According to the official, mediators are expected to convey Tehran's deadline to Washington as well as governments in the region.

The biggest obstacle in the US-Iran deal has been control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman through which a significant share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments moved before the war. Tehran has argued that Article 5 in the June memorandum gives Iran the right to manage the waterway. Washington has rejected that interpretation.

The dispute eventually led to the breakdown of the interim arrangement.

At the same time, Iran is separately negotiating with Oman over arrangements for managing the strait. Tehran has said the two sides are close to an agreement, although talks have moved slowly.

TRUMP ESCALATES RHETORIC

While Tehran has warned of military action, Trump has continued to combine threats with claims that a diplomatic breakthrough could still be possible. In a phone interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump said Iran "should put up the white flag of surrender". He has repeatedly alternated between warnings of further escalation and suggestions that an agreement with Tehran could be within reach.

Trump also issued a stark warning to Oman during the interview.

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s**t out of them," Trump said.

The threat of a wider conflict has also grown as Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen continue attacks in strategic waterways. On Monday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had attacked a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with missiles.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is another major international shipping chokepoint.

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With inputs from agencies