US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday (local time). [Reuters]
US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday (local time). [Reuters]

The United States and Iran have both refused to extend a cease-fire memorandum of understanding after its 60-day negotiating window expired, pushing the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz into an indefinite confrontation with no timeline in sight.

According to Reuters, President Donald Trump told reporters Monday (local time) — the first day after the MOU's deadline — that he had no intention of extending the cease-fire agreement with Iran.

In a Fox News interview the same day, Trump said Iran "must raise the white flag of surrender," adding that he had set no timetable for the conflict. "I'm not in a hurry," he said.

The remarks drew a clear public line against speculation that Washington would rush to find an exit strategy ahead of the November midterm elections.

The US and Iran had entered the 60-day negotiating period on June 18 under the terms of the cease-fire MOU.

Both sides continued trading military blows throughout the period, rendering the MOU largely ineffective. The negotiating deadline officially expired Sunday (US Eastern time), 60 days after it began.

With neither side reviving even a minimal deadline, the two countries have effectively entered a standoff with no visible path to a breakthrough.

Some reports suggested Trump had grown skeptical of the decision-making authority of Iran's official negotiating team and had sought separate contact with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Trump confirmed in the Fox News interview that a back-channel existed with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), separate from Iran's official negotiating delegation.

The IRGC immediately rebuffed the claim.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, IRGC spokesperson Sardar Mohebi denied the existence of any such informal channel, saying "no talks of any kind are taking place with the American side."

Iran also made clear it would not extend the cease-fire MOU.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that day that the country would shift its military posture toward the United States to a "full offensive" footing.

"Iran is prepared to make difficult decisions and act on them, and relevant agencies must be ready for situations that could escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the region," the official said.

The official added that if diplomatic efforts failed, Iran would carry out "timely and precise" military strikes to break the US naval blockade.

At the same time, Iran was reported to be in talks with Oman — a coastal state along the Strait of Hormuz — on arrangements for transit and management of the waterway.

Iran has openly stated its intention to impose service fees on vessels in exchange for guaranteeing safe passage through the strait.

Regarding those discussions, Trump said in the Fox News interview that if Oman interfered, "I will bomb the hell out of them" — directing the threat at a country coordinating with Iran.

Beneath the surface, however, diplomatic efforts to find a resolution have continued.

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, said in a Fox News interview Monday that "without getting into specifics, the level of dialogue happening across various parts of the US government and the Iranian government is probably more active than it's ever been."

Turkey, which shares a border with Iran, also stepped in as a direct mediator after the deadline expired.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged both sides to maintain dialogue to ease tensions between the US and Iran during a phone call with Trump that day, the Turkish presidential office said.

In a statement, the Turkish presidential office said Erdogan stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts and pledged that "Turkey will continue to support efforts for peace."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com