United States and Israel launch military campaign against Iran following collapse of nuclear negotiations

As the U.S. and Israel pursue military action in Iran, the conflict reveals the deep impact of past economic sanctions and failed nuclear diplomacy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 8:34 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Outlookindia

Diplomatic failure and military escalation

The current military conflict erupted despite recent Iranian efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution regarding its nuclear program. According to Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al Musaidi, Tehran had recently offered to permanently degrade its enriched uranium stocks and provide assurances against seeking nuclear weapons. These negotiations followed the 12-day war in June 2025, during which joint U.S. and Israeli forces attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. The Iranian leadership has expressed profound distrust of the current American administration, citing the prior assassination of General Qasem Soleimani and the unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as foundational breaches of diplomacy.

Economic warfare and social instability

Decades of draconian American sanctions have fundamentally reshaped the Iranian domestic landscape, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently confirming to the Senate that these policies were designed to create a critical dollar shortage. Academic research indicates that between 2011 and 2019, approximately nine million middle-class Iranians were pushed into poverty due to these economic pressures. Without such sanctions, experts suggest the Iranian middle class would have expanded by 17 percent. The resulting economic distress, characterized by exploding inflation and currency collapse, served as a primary driver for the widespread street protests that broke out at the end of 2025.

Foreign involvement in domestic unrest

Reports have surfaced regarding the role of Western intelligence and technology in fueling recent internal Iranian opposition. The Wall Street Journal noted that over 6,000 Starlink terminals were smuggled into the country by the U.S. State Department to bypass government internet restrictions during demonstrations. Additionally, the Mujahedin e Khalq (MeK), an organization previously labeled as a terrorist group by the West, has claimed that 1,499 of its members were killed during recent protests. High-ranking U.S. officials and official Mossad channels openly encouraged Iranian citizens to seize government institutions, with President Trump stating the U.S. was locked and loaded to support those attempting to bring about regime change.