A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the country’s authorities should prepare for tensions to escalate further in the Strait of Hormuz and across the wider region.
The official said Tehran was ready to take “tough decisions” and could launch an attack to weaken US military operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
In June, Iran and the United States signed an interim agreement aimed at halting the conflict, giving the two sides 60 days to reach a broader deal on Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions against the country.
The agreement required an immediate and permanent halt to military operations by both sides. However, it quickly broke down over disagreements about control of the Strait of Hormuz, a major waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
When US President Donald Trump was asked whether Washington intended to extend the interim agreement, he said it would not happen.
Despite this, reports indicate that the Trump administration has opened secret, direct talks with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Axios reported that Tulsi Gabbard, the former US Director of National Intelligence, spoke with an Iraqi official who has close ties to the IRGC, after which a US message was delivered to IRGC Commander General Ahmad Vahidi.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, said talks between the US government and various Iranian authorities could be at a more advanced stage than previously believed.
Iran, meanwhile, said Article Five of the June agreement gave it the right to manage the Strait of Hormuz, which it shares with Oman, a US ally. Washington rejected the claim.
Fighting resumed after Iran fired on a vessel it said was attempting to pass through Hormuz using an unauthorized route.
The Iranian official said the United States must comply with all provisions of the agreement within the next few weeks for talks to continue.
Iran is also negotiating with Oman over an agreement to manage the Strait of Hormuz, saying the two sides are close to reaching a deal.
