Iran's Inevitable Nuclear Power Status

In light of recent events concerning Iran and it's nuclear weapons program, I have decided to dedicate a post to the convoluted question of Iran's quest to join the ranks of the nuclear superpowers.

There is implicit evidence in Iran's actions that proves that is developing a nuclear weapon. For one, Iran has (numerous times, in fact) concealed the fact that it had created facilities for nuclear enrichment. If Iran was constructing these facilities for the "peaceful purposes" for which it claimed, why would it need to conceal them? There is no doubt in my mind that these facilities were meant for the creation of nuclear weaponry. In addition, Iran has been adamant in continuing its nuclear program despite numerous sanctions being imposed, and threats of military action. If Iran had innocent intentions, it would have stopped its program then and there, and subject itself to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In my humble opinion, the question is not whether Iran will create nuclear weapons, it is when it will create them. Even though the sanctions are cutting into Iran's economy and wounding the oil industry, Iran shows no plans of backing down. This has multiple factors: Iranian pride, which would be shattered if the government bowed its head to the West and shut down its nuclear program ; the mammoth loss of rare resources, time, and equipment that it had already invested; the lack of any leverage that the general populace has on the continuation of the nuclear program due to the theocratic, nondemocratic government; and the idea that Iran had already known that it was going to receive these sanctions, and was ready to make sacrifices in order to reach its goal.

Both America and Iran both have done horrible things to each other. Neither can claim the higher moral ground, and say that they are right and the other is wrong. I believe the first step in creating a brighter tomorrow is for the two countries to formally apologize for past events, and most importantly create better communication between the two. The lack of understanding and trust between Iran and America will only lead to clashes in the future; in the globalized world of today, we can only hope that they can make up before it is too late.