Iran Shifts to Fully Offensive Policy
A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran has decided to change its defensive strategy to a fully offensive one, while Washington announces plans to declare a key oil route U.S. territory.
A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran has decided to change its defensive strategy to a fully offensive one, while Washington announces plans to declare a key oil route U.S. territory.
Iran has decided to shift its policy from defensive to fully offensive, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, August 17, 2026. According to him, Tehran will escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region if diplomacy with the United States fails.
Just three days earlier, on Friday, August 14, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to soon declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory. That statement is a new escalation of Washington's pressure on Tehran amid attempts to reach an agreement to end a conflict that has lasted nearly six months.
Iran responded that the strait falls under its jurisdiction and that U.S. threats do not intimidate the Iranian government. Trump further told Fox News that the U.S. will hit Iran hard on the economic front.
The day before Trump's statement, on Sunday, August 16, 2026, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. intends to take measures against Iran that, as he put it, have "never been seen before." New actions could be announced as early as next week.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime route located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, which leads to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Despite its relatively small size, it is considered one of the main arteries of the global oil industry.
Approximately 20 percent of the oil consumed on the planet passes through this area. Major producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates rely on this route to transport part of their production to other markets.
Territorially, the strait is divided between waters under the sovereignty of Iran and Oman. However, international law guarantees ships and aircraft of other countries the right of passage through straits used for international navigation. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries bordering these routes cannot prohibit or suspend passage. Iran has signed the agreement but has not ratified it.
Under international law, the U.S. cannot simply take over the Strait of Hormuz by declaration. The UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of other countries.
During the war involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel, Tehran claimed it had closed the strait and began requiring commercial vessels to obtain permission from the Revolutionary Guard to pass. Control of the route is also at the center of peace agreement negotiations: Iran demands that the U.S. recognize Iranian sovereignty over the strait, while Americans advocate for free navigation.
