India, Aug. 18 -- The fragile pause in the US-Iran war is coming under fresh strain, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as the biggest trigger for a new escalation. As Washington and Tehran fail to reach a permanent settlement, a senior Iranian official has warned that Iran could shift from a defensive strategy to a "fully offensive" military posture if diplomacy breaks down.

The warning came on Monday after US President Donald Trump rejected extending the temporary framework agreed between the two countries in June. The 60-day period ended without a final peace agreement, leaving major disputes over Iran's nuclear programme, US sanctions, the American naval blockade and navigation rights in Hormuz unresolved.

With commercial shipping a...