60-Day US-Iran MOU Deadline Expires as Iran Declares Shift to 'Fully Offensive' Policy; IRGC Calls Trump Backchannel Claim 'Lies'

The 60-day memorandum of understanding signed June 18 between the US and Iran expired Aug 17 with no deal reached and no extension announced. Trump told reporters he was 'not in a hurry' and said 'No' when asked if the MOU would be extended. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei downplayed the deadline, saying Iran 'did not commence negotiations because the United States began violating the memorandum shortly after its June 18 signing.' A senior Iranian official separately told Reuters that Iran has decided to shift its posture from defensive to 'fully offensive,' warning Iranian forces 'must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region' and signaling readiness for a 'timely and precise' military attack to break the US naval blockade if diplomacy fails. The dispute centers on Point 5 of the MOU: Tehran says it grants Iran management rights over the strait; Washington rejects that reading. Separately, IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibbi flatly denied Trump's claim of a direct US-IRGC backchannel, calling it 'lies' and 'fantasies born of delusions and nightmares resulting from defeat and desperation in the war,' while White House envoy Jared Kushner insisted US-Iran communications are 'more robust' than ever and accused Tehran of trying to 'trick' Washington with false concessions.