Iran Sets Deadline for U.S. to Fulfill Memorandum as Tensions Rise in the Strait of Hormuz

Huo Xing Finance reports that on August 17, a senior Iranian official stated that Iran has set a several-week deadline for the United States to fully implement the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, and Iran will not indefinitely wait for the U.S. to continue its maritime blockade. Due to "the stalemate in efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement with the United States," Iran has decided to shift its policy "from defensive to fully offensive." If diplomatic efforts fail, "Iranians are prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Middle East region." Iran’s timeline will be conveyed to the United States through mediator countries. On June 17, the U.S. and Iran released the official text of the memorandum of understanding, with Article Three stating that both parties commit to negotiating and reaching a final agreement within a maximum of 60 days. On August 17, the 60-day negotiation window stipulated in the memorandum expired; due to significant disagreements over issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, U.S.-Iran negotiations have stalled without substantial progress. (CCTV News)