Wrong. Sanctioning Iran and actually ENFORCING the sanctions worked extremely well under Trump 1. Iran is weaker because its proxies have been taken off the board by Israel. Also Israel has been bombing Iran. Hard power works.This is a pretty naive and simplistic view. Just bankrupt Iran and bomb them? The former has never kept Iran from projecting power and the latter is much easier said than done. It’s likely a direct attack would not destroy their whole nuclear program since this is real life and not a video game.
What’s worked against Iran the last 50 is very un-Populist: play hardball, but stay open to diplomacy; strengthen regional partnerships; jump on opportunities as they arise. Iran is currently weaker than it’s ever been in our lifetimes, unable to easily pull strings in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and left on its own by Russia.
Nuclear deals and cash do not.