On August 17, the 60-day negotiation window outlined in the US-Iran memorandum of understanding from June came to an end. Just as talks to end the war between the two nations hit a deadlock, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is shifting from a defensive stance to a “full-on offensive” military posture. The official added that if diplomatic efforts collapse, Iran is prepared to take military action against the US naval blockade.
Meanwhile, President Trump said the US will not seek to extend the temporary agreement reached in June. In an interview with Fox News, he also fired off a warning at Oman, saying, “If Oman gets in our way, we’ll blow them to smithereens.”
Iran: If Diplomacy Fails, Military Action Follows
On August 17, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is actively adjusting its military strategy.
“Iranian institutions must be ready to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader region,” the official said, signaling that decisions and actions are imminent.
The official further stated that if diplomatic avenues fail, Tehran will launch a “timely and precise” military operation designed to break the US naval blockade imposed on Iran.
According to the official, the US must fully implement every provision of the memorandum within a “short window of a few weeks” set by Iran—otherwise, there will be no basis for further negotiations. Mediators are expected to relay this deadline to the US and other regional players.
The official also noted that Iran is pivoting from a defensive to an offensive policy because it no longer believes a permanent ceasefire can be achieved through diplomacy with Washington.
“It’s become clear that the US isn’t serious about a truce and won’t make real commitments. So counting on putting pressure on the enemy or relying on mediators to broker a lasting ceasefire is just not realistic,” the official remarked.
“Trump Venting His Frustration, and Oman Became the Target”
When pressed by reporters on whether the US was prepared to extend the June interim deal, Trump answered with a blunt “No.”
The New York Times reported that with the fragile ceasefire arrangement now officially expired, Trump’s frustration over the prolonged US-Iran war is becoming increasingly apparent.
In his Fox News interview, Trump took aim at US ally Oman, a country that has spent years mediating between Washington and Tehran and still insists it remains a neutral go-between.
“If Oman interferes, we’ll blow them to smithereens,” Trump declared.
Iran is currently holding separate talks with Oman over the management of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran had previously indicated that the two sides were close to an agreement, but progress has been slow. Reuters noted that this arrangement is seen as a key piece in solving the broader US-Iran puzzle.
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened Oman this year. Earlier, after reports surfaced that Oman was discussing Hormuz toll fees with Iran, Trump publicly warned that the US could take military action against Oman if it didn’t fall in line with American demands.
The New York Times also pointed out that when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, US officials promised the war would be over within four to six weeks. Yet more than six months later, the conflict rages on.
On the battlefield, the US has struck thousands of targets inside Iran and severely degraded Iranian military capabilities. But on the political front, Trump’s war goals remain as elusive as ever.
Nate Swanson of the Atlantic Council’s Iran Strategy Project believes Trump’s threat against Oman reflects his deep frustration with the current situation.
“He’s just lashing out instinctively, and this time, Oman happens to be his target,” Swanson said.
Justin Logan, director of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, argues that the expiration of the memorandum is “largely symbolic,” but symbols still carry weight. He noted that one of the agreement’s main functions was to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has now become a major sticking point in US-Iran negotiations.
War Drags Past Six Months, Trump’s Approval Drops to 33%
With the ceasefire now expired, the Trump administration is preparing to impose even harsher sanctions on Iran this week, though specific measures have yet to be announced.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously stated that the US could maintain its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely.
On August 17, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the US’s primary objective in this war. “We’re there for one reason only: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
When asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump once again floated the idea of declaring it US territory. “We control it through the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it US territory,” he said.
Meanwhile, the energy risks from the war continue to escalate.
According to Reuters, since the war broke out in late February, Brent crude futures have spiked to as high as $126 per barrel—roughly 75% above pre-war levels. On August 17, Brent crude rose to about $91 per barrel.
Trump has already warned Americans to brace for persistently high oil prices as a result of the war. And the war is now starting to take a toll on his approval rating at home.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on August 17 shows Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, the lowest of his current term, with 64% of respondents saying they disapprove of his performance. That’s a further drop from 35% earlier this month and matches his all-time low from December 2017 during his first term.
The poll also found that 80% of respondents believe the US will remain mired in the Iran war for a long time, while only 16% think the conflict could end within weeks. Just 20% of Americans say the war has been “worth it”—and even among Republican voters, only half share that view.