United States President Donald Trump told the nation on Wednesday that American forces are close to achieving their core strategic objectives in the war on Iran, pledging to “finish the job.” The statement came hours after he claimed Iran had requested a ceasefire — a claim Tehran promptly and flatly denied, launching a fresh wave of missiles at Israel the same day.

Bombs and contradictions

Now in its 33rd day, the US-Israel campaign against Iran shows no sign of winding down on the ground despite Trump’s rhetoric. Al Jazeera reported that strikes continued across the country on Wednesday, hitting steel plants in Isfahan and Farokhshahr, as well as pharmaceutical facilities in Tehran. Iranian officials said the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical company’s research and development department was destroyed, dealing what they called a severe blow to the country’s medical supply chain. Attacking civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and drug factories, constitutes a war crime under international law.

The human toll

More than 2,000 Iranians have been killed since the war began on 28 February. Iran’s Cultural Heritage Minister told Al Jazeera that at least 120 historical sites have also been damaged, describing it as a deliberate war on Iran’s cultural identity. In Lebanon, where Israel has pressed forward with a ground invasion alongside the Iran campaign, the death toll has surpassed 1,200 with 1.2 million displaced. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that messages have been exchanged with Washington but said there are no negotiations and that Tehran has “zero” trust in the US.

Cracks in the coalition

Major NATO allies are pulling back. Spain, France, and Italy have restricted US military use of their airspace and bases. Britain is set to host a meeting of approximately 35 nations this week to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. China and Pakistan have jointly submitted a five-point peace proposal that includes an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the waterway. Trump has suggested the war could end in two to three weeks even without a formal deal, but only if the Hormuz Strait is open.