Issues Under Fire: Crippling Iran Economically Was Never About the Bomb!

This is Tehran. This is the city that Iran built the nuclear reactor for.

Issues Under Fire: Crippling Iran Economically Was Never About the Bomb!

Since news about the Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks underway in Vienna has slowed to a trickle for obvious reasons, this observer decided to take a look at the history of Iran's regional relations to filled the void. Surprisingly, when reviewing Iran's actions and behaviors over the last 30 years, its difficult to see the existential threat Tehran posses to any neighbor in the region.  

Anyone willing to invest a moment or two enlightening themselves about Iran as a nation beyond Western media's depiction, will find an extremely progressive culture, bursting at its borders with potential. According to Wikipedia, Iran has made considerable advances in science and technology through education and training, despite international sanctions in almost all aspect of research during the past 30 years. These are not stupid people by any measure.  

Iran has made significant advancements in a multitude of sectors, including but not limited to aerospace, nuclear science, medical development as well as stem cell and cloning research. After all, Persia was the center of science in earlier times, making momentous contributions to medicine, mathematics, science and philosophy. Oh, and BTW, 70% of Iran's science and engineering students are women. You won't find that stat in Saudi Arabia!

Furthermore, Iran has developed leading manufacturing industries in car-manufacturing and transportation, construction materials, home appliances, food and agricultural goods, armaments pharmaceuticals, information technology, power and petrochemicals, in an effort to diversify Iran's oil reliant economy. 

When looking at Iran's neighbors, including Israel, none of them even comes lose to what Iran is capable of achieving without substantial Western support. As quietly as this secret has been kept, a keen observer can see the envy Iranian detractors may harbor against Tehran as a regional competitor. Were it not for decades of being ostracized, economically sanctioned and tagged as a state sponsor of terror, who knows how far and fast Iran would outpace its neighbors. 

One has to wonder, if Iran's isolation has been more about thwarting its development, than keeping its nuclear ambitions in check. Perhaps Israel and others have determined, if Iran ever finds away to shed the Black Hat reputation and join the community of nations, Tehran would be on a path to regional dominance without ever launching a rocket or even firing a shot.

Bottom line: One could reasonably speculate, the West and regional players have far more to fear from Tehran than a nuclear armed Iran. The West and its Middle Eastern allies fear the power and influence of an unstoppable Iranian economic powerhouse. Based on this observer's findings, if Iran really wanted a bomb, Iran could have developed one decades ago. Podcast Below!