In his address to the nation, an address that the world was watching as well, the president of the United States of America repeated a combination of threats and stale talking points about the war on Iran. The US, he said, would bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, would wind up the war in two to three weeks, and would achieve Washington’s war goals. Beyond a brief reference, he was silent about the mediation efforts with Iran that he has repeatedly spoken of in recent days. Mr Trump's repeated vacillations when it comes to outlining his plans for the conflict and his seemingly contradictory claims make it difficult for the stakeholders in the war, the region, and the world to trust Washington. Under Mr Trump, an American administration that claims it wants to free Iranians from their current rulers has no compunctions about threatening to carpet bomb their nation or, in reality, target Iran’s pharmaceutical companies and water facilities.

On its part, Iran has made it clear that it will not agree to a ceasefire that does not include guarantees that it will not be attacked again. For all of Mr Trump's claims, it is evident that Iran, not the US, controls access to the Strait of Hormuz through which pass the world's energy supplies; Iran's navy and missiles programme are yet to be destroyed; and Iran's leadership remains united, for the most part. Moreover, the dangers of further escalation are growing. As more and more US troops arrive in the Middle East, the whispers of a ground operation by Mr Trump’s administration, either limited to Iranian islands or on the mainland, would only grow stronger. If the US were to take that step, Iran would almost certainly respond with force, not just against US troops but through enhanced aggression across the Gulf. Iran is not Venezuela. It was always naive of Mr Trump and his wise men to believe that the US could control the escalation ladder or timeline of a war with that country with ease. That this is not the case should have become abundantly clear to Mr Trump by now. Unfortunately, given his inconsistencies, it is hard to know whether Washington has learnt its lesson. When the president of the US specialises in issuing wild, conflicting claims, it is difficult for the world to take him seriously.