how to get out of a lease that hasnt started yet (landlord refusing buy-out)

i live in iowa.

my partner and i are trying to get out of a (1 year) lease that starts in july. our landlord requires us to sign lease renewals in october (nine months in advance), and at that time, we did not have plans to move, so we signed. now, we're trying to get out of the lease, but the only option they've given us is to sublet and we're concerned that we wont be able to find someone.

they refused a buyout entirely, even though it was suggested in prior conversations that they do typically allow lease buyouts. just to be perfectly clear: this lease Has Not Started Yet. we would be willing to pay a lot of money to get out of it, because we really dont have a choice. we have already signed a lease for a new place so staying is not an option. even if we have to pay rent for both places for the entire year, we will be moving. (please dont tell me we were stupid, i know, we thought they would let us do a buyout! and the new place is so nice ._.)

i think most of our landlord's decisions here have been super unreasonable, but based on my research it seems entirely legal -_-

assuming we cant find someone to sublet, is there anything we can do?