This piece makes one thing clear: escalation and economic blockades are failing to produce a negotiated end — they're inflicting pain on ordinary Iranians and regional civilians while empowering hardliners on both sides. Repeated strikes and unilateral sanctions are not a substitute for diplomacy; as the experts note, military pressure has not worked and is unlikely to force a durable settlement. A real off-ramp requires multilateral negotiations, meaningful sanctions relief tied to verifiable commitments, humanitarian safeguards, and regional guarantees — not a strategy of punishment that risks a wider, more destructive war. We should be urging our leaders to return to the MoU framework (or a stronger, enforceable deal), bring in neutral mediators and international observers, and prioritize de-escalation and human security. Continuing to treat this as a chess game of coercion ignores the human cost and long-term damage to global stability. Political pressure at home — demanding diplomacy over bombardment — is the most effective lever people have right now.