U.S. sanctions on Iran, now in place for 47 years, have profoundly distorted the country’s economic development — fueling inflation, currency collapse, and widespread public despair. The episode traces three key eras: the revolutionary 1979–80s, when anti-imperial ideology and the hostage crisis cemented economic isolation; the 1990s, when Iran cautiously liberalized trade and built a vibrant middle class despite sanctions; and the post-2012 period, when comprehensive nuclear-related sanctions triggered sharp contraction. Though the 2015 nuclear deal offered hope, global financial institutions’ fear of U.S. penalties prevented meaningful reintegration — undermining the agreement’s promise. Trump’s 2018 withdrawal worsened conditions, empowering the IRGC economically while immiserating ordinary citizens. Far from pressuring political change, sanctions intensified repression and eroded trust in diplomacy — making them less a substitute for war than a different kind of violence with lasting human costs.