A drawn-out Iran conflict is bad news for markets and household budgets, as high oil and energy costs feed more inflation.

• No real Iran deal is coming soon; talks are stalling because Iran wants uranium enrichment and other conditions the US won't accept.
• That standoff keeps oil and energy prices high worldwide, squeezing people in the US and abroad.
• The US still buys oil from other countries in dollars despite having plenty of its own, which raises costs — and Saudi oil imports reportedly just hit zero, a sign the petrodollar system is weakening.
• Much of US growth is tied to a "war economy," where heavy government spending on weapons props up GDP and pushes more money into the system.
• A sharp, deep market drop is predicted for 2027, followed by a fast recovery driven by huge stimulus and falling interest rates.

Outlook: Expect energy costs and inflation to stay high while no Iran deal holds, with a hard market shakeout seen further out.