[sorushn]

> Sanctions don't apply to Iranians in the US

Sanctions absolutely do apply to Iranians (even dual citizens) anywhere in the world, albeit less intensively.

> not everyone in Iran is Iranian

Swing and a miss. Sanctions are primarily against Iranian nationals, and extend to any non-Iranian who violated the sanctions. If you visit Iran as an American/Chinese/Antractican you don't automatically end up sanctioned.

> The idea is to get the population to put pressure on the leaders

And that makes it okay? Nuking civilians can also be a tactic to pressure the leaders into surrender. And nukes may take fewer lives than decades of intense sanctions.