My question was serious. Why should any nation not pursue weapons technology that benefits them? It seems foolish to voluntarily decline the best defensive weaponry available.
It seems prudent to deprive Iran nuclear weapons, not foolish.
Iran has the same right to nuclear power that we do. As for your argument that they must somehow prove to the rest of the world that they are "stable"... how does a nation prove they're stable? Define "stable."
They prove their stability over decades - showing they are not threatening to other country's, they do not support terrorist organizations, that their internal population is content with their leadership and function. That Iran's leaders & rhetoric does not call for the destruction of any other country and that Iran has an open and accessible society and borders as well as an open diplomatic channel where both political allies and detractors.
Let me make it easy... when people and governments from any country can travel to and from Iran like they can with Britain, France, Japan, Australia or if you'd like.... Egypt, Jordan, Turkey... and where trade and diplomacy works like they do in those other country's as I described... then Iran will prove themselves "stable".
There are many people on this planet, quite reasonable and intelligent, who would say the US is unstable. And if you look at the number of military personnel and bases we have scattered around the world it would seem they have a case. Especially when you add in the fact that we have taken very aggressive military actions throughout the world in the last few decades.
Define "many" - since you're into calling out subjectivty. However, a prolific military which is used by the way, with the cooperation of both the U.N. and NATO and NOT as a single country simply acting on it's own, defines your "many reasonable and intelligent" not as you say, but as fringe critics. Got some links to these people? I'd be interested in gauging their intelligence for myself. Were your claim of "reasonable and intelligent" claim accurate - the support and membership of the United States would have diminished and fallen away over time. That obviously has not happened, therefore the majority of opinion is
not as you say --- which means you put forth a false choice. Either your claim of "intelligent and reasonable" are not intelligent or reasonable OR the rest of the world is apparently stupid.
Were I a betting man... Iran is not seen as intelligent, reasonable, open, or stable. Why don't you start a poll... ask the question:
"Do you consider Iran a "stable" country in the World?"
- Yes
- No
- Other
I'd be interested in public opinion on this. I already know the answer but perhaps you would benefit by it.