Iran Shifts to Fully Offensive Policy Amid Deadline to US Over Hormuz Strait Tensions

An Iranian senior official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran has decided to change its stance from defensive to fully offensive, preparing all its forces for potential escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region if diplomatic efforts fail. The official emphasized that Iran has set a deadline of several weeks for the United States to fully implement a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, warning that the maritime blockade cannot continue indefinitely. Timelines will be communicated to the Trump administration and Gulf states through intermediaries.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Mohebbi, denied US President Donald Trump's claim of direct talks with the IRGC, calling it a "fantasy" born of defeat and despair. Israeli intelligence sources have noted signs that hardliners in Tehran are shifting their strategic approach and preparing for a possible regional escalation. Iran may increase military and economic pressure on the US and Israel, including attacks on energy infrastructure, shipping routes, and Washington's regional allies.

Reports indicate growing Iranian awareness that the conflict extends beyond the military domain, as the maritime blockade and restrictions on oil exports severely impact the regime's revenues. The Trump administration is reportedly considering intensifying sanctions targeting Iran's oil export and financial sectors. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, has seen sharply reduced traffic due to attacks on vessels, becoming a central flashpoint between Iran and the US.

An Israeli official assessed that the economic pressure on Iran might provoke an offensive move, stating that if Tehran concludes the blockade threatens regime stability and its ability to fund security forces and proxy groups, it could attempt to alter the situation through regional escalation.