The Iranians had good reason to acquire nuclear weapons long before the present crisis, and there is substantial evidence they were doing just that in the early 2000s. After all, Iran now faces an existential threat from the United States, and a nuclear arsenal will go a long way toward eliminating it. Nuclear weapons are considered the ultimate deterrent for good reason: Adversaries are unlikely to threaten the existence of a nuclear-armed state, especially one with a deterrent that can survive a first-strike attack, because that is the one circumstance in which a state is likely to use its nuclear weapons. In short, nuclear weapons would profoundly alter Iran’s strategic situation for the better. After all, virtually all the Democratic candidates are committed to returning the United States to the nuclear deal.

Source: International New York Times July 01, 2019 16:18 UTC