If we all close our eyes and think of the word ‘war’ I can bet that most of us wouldn’t associate it with ‘success,’ ‘winning’ or even ‘essential.’ We would describe it in more vile terms, or, by its textbook definition: “a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations.”

At Cornell University, discussions around global issues often take place in classrooms, where they're analyzed and turned into policy ideas. However, the current situation between Iran and the United States is too complex for simplification. It goes beyond politics; it's about real people, power dynamics and the tangible consequences that are unfolding before our eyes. 

Since Feb. 28, tensions have boiled over into open conflict, with the U.S. and its allies launching strikes to weaken Iran’s military and even aiming for regime change. Meanwhile, Iran has been rocked by massive internal protests, some of the largest seen since 1979, which have faced severe crackdowns, resulting in thousands of deaths. Recently, an unexpected ceasefire has put a temporary halt to the fighting, but there's still plenty of uncertainty, as both sides declare victory while negotiations remain ongoing.

From a policy perspective, the U.S. has primarily focused on using sanctions and military pressure in its response. The goal of these sanctions is to........

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