just a few days ago Donald Trump He insisted that an agreement was close. He spoke of progress in conversations with Iranof exchanges of drafts and the possibility of closing a pact that would end a war that has already lasted more than three months. However, The early hours of this Thursday painted a radically different scenario.
US bombings on Iranian territory, we have seen explosions in various parts of the country, constant Iranian attacks against US military installations in the Middle East and, above all, a threat that has set off all international alarms: the supposed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic points on the planet for global oil trade.
The feeling is that the crisis has entered its most unpredictable moment since the ceasefire on April 8.
Trump bombs Iran again
The escalation began when the United States announced a new wave of attacks against “multiple” Iranian targets. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the bombings were ordered directly by Trump and were intended to respond to Iran’s “continued aggression.” Washington accuses Tehran of being behind the attack on a US Apache helicopter that occurred hours ago near the Strait of Hormuz.
Subsequently, the military command detailed that the attacks were directed against Iranian surveillance, communications and air defense systems, considered a threat to US forces deployed in the region and to commercial shipping.
Explosions began to be recorded shortly after in various parts of Iran. Local media reported the activation of anti-aircraft defenses in Tehran and detonations in cities in the south of the country, as well as on the island of Qeshm, one of the most sensitive areas of the Persian Gulf.
The Hormuz factor
But the real concern came hours later. The Iranian Army announced the “complete” closure of the Strait of Hormuz and warned that any vessel attempting to cross it would become a military target.
The Revolutionary Guard even claimed to have fired at two ships that were trying to cross the area. And this is not just any threat because through the Strait of Hormuz, as we have said so many times, a fundamental part of the oil exported by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates or Iran itself passes. Any prolonged disruption to maritime traffic would have immediate consequences on energy markets and could lead to a further rise in crude oil prices around the world.
However, just a few minutes later came the American response: they denied that the strait was really closed and assured that commercial ships continued entering and leaving normally. They have also rejected reports spread by Iranian media about alleged attacks against US ships or facilities in the area.
The contradiction between both versions reflects the extent to which information warfare has become just another part of the conflict.
Attacks beyond Iran
As Washington and Tehran traded accusations over Hormuz, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced a new military response. According to Iranian authorities, US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait were attacked, as well as facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet deployed in the Persian Gulf.
Tehran claimed to have launched two waves of attacks against several military targets and said it also used drones against US communications systems and radars.
The offensive represents a new qualitative leap in the crisis because it expands the scenario of confrontation beyond Iranian territory itself.
The Trump Paradox
In the midst of all this escalation there is one element that is especially striking: while the bombings were taking place, Fox News reported that Trump maintained direct contact with Iranian officials from the White House crisis room. According to this version, the US president insisted the Iranian military commanders accept the conditions posed by Washington in the negotiations.
The image perfectly summarizes the contradiction that this crisis is going through. The United States continues to affirm that it is seeking a peace agreement, while Iran assures that talks continue through mediators such as Pakistan, but the reality is that on the ground both parties continue to exchange attacks.
The great unknown is no longer whether Washington and Tehran continue negotiating, but rather whether the negotiations can survive a military dynamic that seems to accelerate with each passing day.
Because if the last few hours have shown anything, it is that the Middle East is once again moving on an extremely fine line, a line that separates a complicated negotiation from a much greater escalation with unforeseeable consequences for the entire region.
