Does Tehran really need a nuclear bomb?

The Iranian nuclear program was planned and initiated during the Cold War era. It matured as a program during the 1960s through European companies with the help of the United States, in the name of the idea called “Atoms for peace.” To this day, I still wonder how could one achieve peace by using nuclear weapons.
The nuclear program in Iran went as planned. It is true that Iran is a huge country with a fast-growing population and has all the right to plan for its future particularly when it comes to addressing its growing energy needs. But why does it need a nuclear bomb?
What if Iran acquires nuclear bomb(s)? Will it use it or simply keep it as a trophy at a time when most, if not all, nuclear powers are working meticulously to find solutions to do away with their nuclear arsenals.
The erstwhile Iranian Empire and later on the Islamic Republic of Iran has the most controversial nuclear program in the world. Since its inception, the Iranian nuclear program has experienced many ups and downs.
Observers may recall that when Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant was almost nearing completion, the 1979 revolution erupted and reports emerged claiming that Ayatollah Khomeini deemed making destructive weapons un-Islamic. Besides, it is not cheap to build nuclear reactors. Then the Iraq-Iran war broke out and the Iraqis attacked the main nuclear facilities in Bushehr.
Iran was forced to use paint sealant to cover the main dome and things came to a standstill. The most notable thing about the Bushehr plant is that it has been built using western technologies, which is far more complicated and advanced than the Soviet-era facilities. After the Iraq-Iran war, which ended in August 1988, Iran was left with no friends in the West and it had to turn to the cash-starved Russia and the former Soviet-bloc countries. The Iranians tried to contact countries like Spain and Argentina but discussions never materialized.
When the Iranians decided to restart their nuclear program, they declared to the world that they were a country with about 70 million people and they simply needed more energy resources because oil and gas production were being decreased by 10 percent each year due to the old or obsolete oil production infrastructure and facilities. The dilapidated condition of the oil production infrastructure was a result of the 8-year war with Iraq and the western boycott of Iran. However, due to the loopholes in the international markets, Iran managed to increase its pace in getting the nuclear program back on track. It was obvious that Iran would not quit its quest for attaining nuclear capabilities. They were somehow able to trick the IAEA inspectors. No one knows for sure how far Iran is from becoming a nuclear power. But the question remains: What will Iran do with its nuclear bomb? Is it to dominate the region or is it an attempt to restore past glories?
It is true that the main industrial countries build nuclear facilities to produce more electrical power to run their industrial machines and as a deterrent but at the end of the day, those industrial countries want to boost their economies and raise the standards of living of their people. It is ironic to see clearly that Iran possesses more capabilities and assets than many of today’s industrial countries. Iran has one of the richest histories and culture in the world, a history that goes back to thousands of years. Iran produces the best and finest saffron, which is more expensive than gold and has the most beautiful and expensive rugs in the world. Persian pistachio and caviar can produce and generate more money for Iran’s suffering economy if utilized in better ways. The Iranians are very hard working people and their land with its variety of topographies from high mountains to the beaches can be a tourist attraction for many in the area. It is sad to see all the assets and money being wasted on building nuclear facilities, which is only causing harm to the Iranians. It is important to focus on building Iranian economy to raise the standard of living of Iranians. An Iranian nuclear bomb may raise the moral of many Iranians, but it is high standard of living that can bring the hundreds of thousands of Iranian brains back from the West. Iran might have the capabilities to build a nuclear bomb but the question remains …then what?
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