Iran closes Ormuz and Trump seeks ways of negotiating

Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the intensification of US attacks have brought the Middle East conflict into a new critical phase, and for the time being peace seems far away, a conflict that deteriorated last week when Trump concluded the ceasefire agreement signed on June 17 after both sides accused each other of violating it.

The definitive breakdown of diplomacy has led to open clashes in the Persian Gulf, and the Iranian Revolution Guard (IRGC) has cut off international maritime traffic in the world's main energy artery, the Strait of Hormuz.

In this context, the United States has reestablished a naval siege of Iran last night and continued its attacks on southern Iranian territory for the fourth night in a row. The latest bombings have lasted seven hours and left at least nine dead , including seven military personnel, and more than 200 injured, according to the Iranian authorities.

Iran has responded immediately to this attack and has claimed responsibility for several drone and missile attacks on US military interests in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Trump is watching for alternatives. After announcing the resumption of the naval blockade, the president demanded on social media that all ships pay a 20% fee to Washington for protecting the Strait of Hormuz.

24 hours later, however, he completely changed what he had said before: he abolished the tax and offered his Gulf allies "high-trade and investment agreements" in exchange for securing a safe step.

According to this move, Trump is looking for unorthodox solutions to stop the more than four months of conflict that energized the pact he reached just a month ago.