It’s really pretty simple.
Iran says they want nuclear fuel for production of electric power.
Iran has oil. Therefor, Iran has natural gas - lots of it. The Persian Gulf area (which includes Iran) has approximately 45% of the world’s known reserves of natural gas - approximately 2,462 trillion cubic feet. (
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/pgulf.html )
As in enough natural gas to produce all the electric power all of Iran could ever need or want. Compared to nuclear generating plants, natural gas plants are cheaper to build, operate, and maintain.
Even though the U.S. has far less reserves of natural gas than the Persian Gulf area, natural gas ranks third as a fuel for generating electric power. Coal is first (2,005,085 thousand megawatt hours), followed by nuclear (789,023 thousand megawatt hours), and then natural gas (759,075 thousand megawatt hours). Numbers are for 2006, a rolling 12 month period ending in May. (
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electri.../table1_1.html )
Note that the U.S. derives only 4% less power from natural gas than from nuclear power plants.
Therefor, Iran does not need nuclear powered generating plants in order to meet electrical power needs.
Iran has been offered incentives to abandon uranium enrichment that included nuclear power generation - but they refused it.
Therefor, Iran most likely does not seek production of fissile nuclear fuel for power plants, they seek fissile nuclear material to build nuclear weapons. It’s glaringly obvious. Iran is lying about its intentions regarding use of nuclear technology.
Presumably, the first place Iran would use nuclear weapons is Israel, and the second place Iran would use nuclear weapons is the United States, providing they can figure out how to get a bomb there.
The only reason certain countries have problems with sanctions against Iran for nuclear naughtiness is that these countries have been engaging in sales of weapons and nuclear technology to Iran.
Would you bet your life on a presumed certainty that Iran could never detonate a nuclear weapon in the U.S.? You are free to bet your own life, but you are not free to bet mine.
Playing political football with an issue (obviously) this dire is colossally irresponsible.
Bottom line is that the U.S. will not permit a radical country like Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
As for my military service, I duly served eligibility for the draft during the Vietnam era, but was never called. I later got a job (as a civilian) working at Naval Air Station, Alameda, California reworking sparrow missile target seeker units. That military base was closed years ago.
If the military would accept me I would enlist. I’m too old (52) and have medical issues.
I have also given volunteer service as an emergency preparedness and disaster service worker for 30 years. My registration as a disaster service worker is still active.