IIRC, the US and British intelligence agencies helped a coup in Iran, installed the unpopular Shah, and Iran was becoming a Westernized country. The Ayatollah took over after the Shah was deposed,and it became a Shi'ite theocracy. The theocracy was developing a bomb because the modern world doesn't invade countries with atomic weaponry. One President made a deal which would delay the bomb by 15-20 years, but that was set aside by another President.

They should have enough material to make a bomb, but don't seem to be in too much of a rush to get there. Odd for them, you'd think they'd be like N Korea.

So over the next 10 years Iran will roll out a bomb - we won't be able to put the genie back in the lamp - so we'll have to deal. We have to find a formula that allows Iran to exist and stabilizes the Middle East. We aren't very good at replacing governments - look at what happened in Iran and in Nicaragua for instance. Right now we are the Great Satan. This will call for diplomacy, not the "nuke 'em till they glow" mentality.

Tehran has made diplomatic strides with other Arab states, but what their desired end is is never apparent. So far the stated goal appears to include ending Israel.