US Iran War Day 34 Updates: Trump promises harder strikes; Iran denies talks as conflict drags on

The Iran-Israel war entered its 34rd day on Thursday with intensifying military exchanges, sharp rhetoric from Tehran, and fresh assertions from US President Donald Trump that the conflict could soon wind down — even as Iran dismissed Washington’s position as “irrational” and denied any ceasefire talks.

In his first prime-time address since the conflict began, Trump said the United States was close to achieving its goals, declaring that “core strategic objectives are nearing completion” and that American forces would continue to strike Iran “extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”

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However, even as Washington projected confidence, developments on the ground and diplomatic signals suggested a prolonged and volatile phase ahead.

Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Israel

The Iran-backed group said the strike was a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel intercepted the missile, marking the Houthis’ first direct involvement in the conflict.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree warned future actions will depend on Israel’s escalation or de-escalation.

Analysts say Houthis could target Red Sea shipping or Gulf oil facilities next.

Pakistan hikes fuel prices by 42% amid rising oil costs

The increase comes after a 20% rise last month, following the surge in global oil prices linked to the Iran war.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said he is urging Washington and Tehran to negotiate to ease the economic impact.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they hit Oracle’s data centre in Dubai

State media reports the IRGC targeted the US tech firm’s facility in Dubai amid broader threats against Western tech infrastructure in the region.

Democrats say Trump is losing the war

Sen. Chris Murphy says the US is losing, citing billions spent, American lives lost, and Iran’s rising regional power.

He criticised the president’s speech as disconnected from reality.

Iran’s oldest medical research centre hit

Strikes damaged the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a century-old vaccine and biopharmaceutical facility.

Iran called it an assault on international health security; the WHO and Red Cross were urged to respond.

Austria closes its airspace to US military operations related to Iran

Austria’s Defence Ministry has rejected U.S. requests to use its airspace, citing the country’s neutrality law.

According to the Austria Press Agency, a ministry spokesperson said there have been “several” requests from Washington.

Austria is the latest European country to limit U.S. military access amid the ongoing U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran.

Trump posts video of bridge collapsing and urges Iran to ‘make a deal’

Donald Trump shared footage claiming it showed Iran’s “biggest bridge,” warning “much more” would follow.

Iranian state media reported an attack on the under-construction B1 bridge; two deaths were reported.

“IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY,” Trump wrote.

Markets volatile as oil spikes after Trump escalation warning

• Stocks wavered on Wall Street after early losses, with the S&P 500 down 0.1% after falling as much as 1.5%
• The Dow slipped 87 points while the Nasdaq also edged lower
• Oil prices surged, with US crude briefly nearing $114 a barrel before easing
• Investor sentiment weakened after Trump failed to provide a clear timeline for ending the war

UN talks on Hormuz reopening stall amid China, Russia objections

• A Bahrain-backed UN proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has hit an impasse
• China and Russia opposed language allowing “all necessary means” to protect shipping
• Beijing warned against actions that could escalate tensions further
• Diplomatic efforts continue but no breakthrough has been reached

Argentina expels Iran diplomat amid escalating tensions

• Argentina declared Iran’s chargé d’affaires persona non grata and ordered him to leave within 48 hours
• The move followed sharp remarks from Tehran accusing Buenos Aires of aligning with the US and Israel
• Argentina recently designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation
• The decision comes against the backdrop of longstanding tensions over past terror attacks in Buenos Aires

Trump faces domestic pressure as public support wanes

• Trump urged patience in his address but faces growing skepticism at home
• A majority of Americans believe US military action has gone too far, according to a recent poll
• Concerns over rising fuel costs are also increasing among the public
• The administration is ramping up military deployment despite declining support

Israel warns Hezbollah leader after heavy rocket fire

• Hezbollah fired around 80 rockets into Israel, damaging property but causing no injuries
• The barrage coincided with Iran-linked attacks and Passover celebrations
• Israel’s defence minister warned Hezbollah’s leadership would pay a “heavy price”
• Tensions along the Lebanon border continue to escalate

Lebanon toll rises as strikes kill over 1,300

• Israeli strikes have killed 1,345 people in Lebanon since early March, authorities said
• The toll includes women, children and dozens of health workers
• More than one million people have been displaced
• Thousands more have been injured as the conflict intensifies

UK invites India, 40+ other countires to discuss security of the Hormuz passage

• The UK accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the global economy
• Over 40 countries including India discussed ways to reopen the key shipping route
• Plans include both diplomatic and military measures post-conflict
• The US is not participating in the talks

Iran detains prominent human rights lawyer

• Iranian authorities detained rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh without explanation
• Her daughter said officials also seized electronic devices during the arrest
• Sotoudeh is a prominent activist and Sakharov Prize winner
• The move raises fresh concerns over civil liberties in Iran

Trump’s address: ‘Finish the job’ but no clear exit

In a 20-minute televised speech, Trump sought to reassure Americans amid falling approval ratings and economic anxiety, asserting that US military action had delivered “swift, decisive, overwhelming victories.”

• He claimed the US had crippled Iran’s military capabilities, including its navy, air force and missile infrastructure
• “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” he said
• He warned of further escalation if Iran did not meet US demands
• Despite saying the war could end soon, he offered no firm timeline for a ceasefire

Trump also framed the conflict in historical terms, noting that the war had lasted just over a month compared to years-long global conflicts, signalling a push for patience among the American public.

At the same time, he reiterated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz remained central to any resolution, even as Iran maintained its hardline stance.

Iran pushes back: ‘Maximalist and irrational’

Iran strongly rejected US claims of progress toward peace.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Washington’s demands were “maximalist and irrational” and clarified that no direct negotiations were underway.

“Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US,” he said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian went further, questioning the legitimacy of the war itself.

The US-Israeli campaign, he said, would “sow instability, increase human and economic costs” and plant “seeds of resentment that will endure for years.”

“Exactly which of the American people's interests are truly being served by this war?” he asked.

Middle East War: Israel reports fresh Iranian missile attacks hours after Trump’s address

Military situation: Missiles, strikes and casualties

Hostilities continued unabated on the battlefield.

• Israel said its air defence systems were activated to intercept fresh Iranian missile launches
• “Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the Israeli military said
• Emergency services reported 14 people wounded near Tel Aviv, including an 11-year-old girl
• Additional casualties were reported in northern Israel following fire from Lebanon, where Israeli forces are engaged with Iran-backed Hezbollah

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that former foreign minister Kamal Kharazi was seriously wounded in a strike on his home in Tehran that killed his wife. He remains a senior government adviser.

Strait of Hormuz flashpoint

The strategic Strait of Hormuz continues to be a central flashpoint in the conflict.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the waterway would remain closed to its “enemies,” directly challenging US demands to reopen the critical global oil transit route.

Trump, in his address, urged countries dependent on Gulf oil to step in and secure the route, underscoring the widening international stakes of the war.

Global economic ripple effects

The conflict is already sending shockwaves through the global economy.

• Global stock markets rallied after Trump suggested the war could end within weeks
• Oil prices, however, remain volatile amid uncertainty over the Hormuz blockade
• The World Bank warned it is “extremely concerned” about the war’s impact on inflation, jobs and food security

The institution said it is coordinating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Energy Agency (IEA) to respond to the crisis.

Where things stand on Day 33

As the war enters its fifth week, several key realities define the conflict:

• The US and Israel claim major military gains, but continue active strikes
• Iran denies any ceasefire talks and signals long-term resistance
• Missile exchanges and proxy conflicts, including in Lebanon, persist
• The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical and unresolved flashpoint
• Global economic and energy markets remain on edge

Despite Trump’s assertion that the war could be nearing its end, the absence of direct negotiations, continued military escalation, and hardened rhetoric on both sides suggest that a decisive resolution remains uncertain.