Don't get me wrong-- I'm not trying to drum-up sympathy for an Iranian government headed by one or many with avowed devotions for obliteration of the state of Israel and/or western interests. I also believe firmly that the trend should be towards fewer nations with nukes, not more. I'm just suggesting that there are perspectives other than those of the US government and its media that are worth considering and that I have not seen, even here. To whit:
Imagine that you are among the leaders (fairly elected or otherwise) of a middle eastern country with vast oil reserves and an educated populace that includes scientists and technicians adept and experienced in the arts of nuclear science. Imagine further (and it's not much of a stretch) that market prices for your oil exports have provided a national windfall profit that shows no signs of abating any time soon. You, as a forward-thinking national, recognize that such income can be sustained only as long as the reserves hold out; furthermore, the longer that you can draw on those reserves for export-driven income the better, since the profit margin will only climb as other nations' reserves are depleted by the full-capacity pumping necessary to supply world-wide economic and political demands. Do you
a) Join the crowd and pump oil until the party's over; or
b) Use the present and future proceeds to develop alternative energy technologies, including nuclear, in anticipation of the day when others' petro-based economies crash amid waves of energy cost-driven inflation, their lights go out, and their trains, planes, and automobiles stop running.
Correct answer(s): If you're a Kuwaiti Emir, a; if you're leading a nation into its future, b.
Environmental concerns not withstanding, (b) seems like a reasonable course.
Now consider all of the above, but add in the circumstance that the country with which you have been, de facto, at war with since 1979, has amassed troops, armaments, as well as intelligence and logistical support networks on opposite flanks of your nation. Be mindful that said nation has shown recently and historically a marked tendancy to take by military force those other nations and assets that it covets, regardless of international norms of behavior. Oh yeah, and don't forget that said enemy has declared in its pious tones that your country is an `axis of evil'. Do you
a. Renounce the right to manufacture and maintain the only weapons systems capable of deterring an attack by said country; or
b. Defend your country and its sovereignty by any means possible.
Naïve answer: a, correct answer: b.
To reiterate, I have no sympathy for the despotic, monotheistic, and hateful regime in control of Iranian politics at present. However, it is typically short-sighted and potentially/evidentially tragic that the American government, its media, its businesses and its citizens, should utterly disregard the legitimate interests and concerns of another nation and its people. Until we shed such ignorant and arrogant attitudes there will be no peace for the US (and ergo for the world).