[Anchor]
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he has no intention of extending the end-of-war memorandum of understanding with Iran. In response, Iran has warned that it will switch to a full-scale offensive. As tensions rise once again between the U.S. and Iran, a vessel has been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the details.
[Reporter]
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 17th (local time) that he has no intention of extending the 60-day end-of-war memorandum of understanding with Iran, which reached its expiration date.
The end-of-war MOU signed between the U.S. and Iran last June had effectively been rendered meaningless as both sides continued multiple rounds of armed clashes.
[Donald Trump / U.S. President: Iran wants a deal, but they're not going to make the kind of deal I think is necessary.]
Earlier, in an interview with Fox News, Trump claimed that "Iran must raise the white flag of surrender."
He also issued a profanity-laced warning to Oman, a longtime U.S. ally, stating, "If they interfere, we will bomb them mercilessly."
This revealed his displeasure after Oman discussed joint management plans with Iran, such as transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, and prepared a joint declaration.
Iran maintains that the end-of-war MOU practically never even got off the ground due to the United States.
[Esmaeil Baghaei / Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (Local time, 17th): Negotiations have not begun, (because) the U.S. seriously and extensively violated the memorandum of understanding within weeks after signing it on June 18.]
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would shift its military posture against the U.S. to a "full-scale offensive," issuing a warning to Trump.
Amid the renewed military tension between the U.S. and Iran, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that it received a report in the early hours of the 18th (local time) that a vessel was struck by an "unidentified projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz.
The attack damaged one crew member and the vessel's engine room, and the perpetrator has not yet been identified.
(Video editing: Park Choon-bae)
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