Threatening war while demanding sweeping, arguably unattainable concessions risks repeating the catastrophic miscalculations that paved the way for the Iraq invasion. Military buildup without a coherent legal rationale or credible post-conflict planning invites another destabilizing Middle East crisis with unpredictable regional fallout. A sustainable diplomatic path remains possible if Washington moves away from maximalist ultimatums and acknowledges Iran’s right under international frameworks to pursue peaceful nuclear energy within verifiable limits.