Iran and the United States remain deadlocked over efforts to end their months-long conflict in the Gulf, with Tehran saying there has been no progress toward reviving an interim agreement reached in June or setting a timeline for implementing its commitments.<\/p>\n
The standoff comes as Iran signals a tougher military posture and tensions continue around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, raising fresh doubts over prospects for a lasting peace.<\/p>\n Iran signals shift to offensive strategy<\/p>\n Mohammad Reza Naqdi, an adviser to the commander of Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Tehran was moving toward an \u201coffensive doctrine\u201d following a series of senior military appointments by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.<\/p>\n Speaking on Iranian state television, Naqdi said the IRGC must be prepared to conduct operations inside enemy territory when conditions allow.<\/p>\n He contrasted the new approach with Iran\u2019s pre-war strategy, which he described as being primarily focused on defence and preserving the country.<\/p>\n The comments signal a significant shift in Iran\u2019s military posture and come amid continued tensions with the United States.<\/p>\n No progress on June interim deal<\/p>\n A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran and Washington remain divided over efforts to revive the interim agreement reached in June.<\/p>\n The source said mediators have discussed a US return to the agreement and the possibility of establishing a timeline for Washington and Tehran to fulfil their respective commitments.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been absolutely no progress on this issue,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n Iran has rejected reports that the 60-day period set under the June agreement could be extended, arguing that the period never properly began because Washington violated the agreement shortly after it was reached.<\/p>\n The June deal had called for an immediate and permanent halt to military operations and provided a 60-day period for negotiations<\/a> toward a broader agreement involving Iran\u2019s nuclear programme and US sanctions.<\/p>\n Strait of Hormuz remains key sticking point<\/p>\n The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to a new agreement.<\/p>\n The United States has accused Iran of failing to meet commitments to reopen the strategic shipping route. Tehran, meanwhile, says Washington has failed to honour its own obligations, including lifting a blockade on Iranian ports and releasing frozen Iranian assets.<\/p>\n Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei said the strait would remain closed unless Washington accepted Tehran\u2019s conditions for ending the war.<\/p>\n The waterway, located between Iran and Oman, handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows before the conflict, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets.<\/p>\n Trump demands compensation from Iran<\/p>\n Tensions have also risen through increasingly hostile rhetoric from both sides.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran pay compensation for people killed<\/a> in what he described as 50 years of wars, attacks and protests.<\/p>\n