U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations hinge on domestic political timelines amid sanctions and regional proxy conflicts

The U.S.

-Iran impasse is a symptom of deeper structural failures: a neoliberal security paradigm that prioritizes short-term electoral gains over long-term stability, a sanctions regime that weaponizes civilian suffering, and a media ecosystem that amplifies state narratives while silencing marginalized voices. Historical precedents like the JCPOA’s collapse and the 1953 coup reveal a cycle of mistrust where domestic politics in Washington and Tehran override regional needs. Cross-cultural solutions—from Oman’s mediation to Iranian civil society’s advocacy—offer pathways beyond brinkmanship, but require dismantling the hegemonic framing that treats the Gulf as a chessboard for great powers. Future modeling underscores the urgency: climate change will intensify resource conflicts, making cooperation not optional but existential. The solution lies in centering human security over state security, a paradigm shift that demands reallocating power from militarized elites to grassroots peacebuilders.