The conflict between Iran and the United States has long been studied as a geopolitical standoff, marked by a cold war of sanctions, proxy forces, and nuclear brinkmanship in recent decades. As of 2026, that framework no longer holds, since what once seemed like a managed rivalry has collapsed into open warfare, dragging many countries into it, and millions of civilians across West Asia are facing displacement, medical collapse, economic ruin, and death on account of the open hostilities. The human security consequences are no longer theoretical; they are increasingly documented, ongoing, and devastating...