I'm far from an Obama supporter, but I'll add a tiny bit of nuance: Iran has oil, but they have nothing in the way of refinery capacity. They are a net importer of refined products--including gasoline and fuel oil. It's actually a pretty significant point of leverage we have, and why blockades would work well on them. So their lack of fuel oil capacity may mean that they could have civilian uses for nuclear power.

That said, the Iranian government could very easily solve their problem without nuclear power by not driving their economy into the ground, and allowing investment in the energy sector. Then again, if corrupt, quasi-religious despots were that enlightened, we wouldn't have a problem with a nuclear Iran. So it goes.

why are you shocked?.....this is typical liberal foreign policy from a liberal president.

Nikhil, it's far easier and cheaper to build those needed refineries (common technology that's been around for decades) rather than "investing" several times more in nuclear technology that relatively few countries have.

Refineries just don't have as much "kick" in other uses, though.

@Perry

Oh, I completely agree. And the idea of a nuclear Iran under its current management is, indeed, scary as all hell. I was just noting that the Iranian civilian power supply is not as plentiful as their oil reserves would indicate.

And why exactly is 'nucahlar' power ok for Iran and not ok for the United States? Why isn't he suggesting they use windfarms and solar power? Could anyone explain that?

Unlike the Zionist enemy, Iran is very much concerned about the impact of carbon emissions on the planet. We have been at the forefront of going green. If you followed our government, you would know that it was one of two key campaign pledges of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - that and women's rights, of course.

My brother in Islam, Mohammed Abdel Nu'ke, speaks the truth about The Islamic Republic of Iran's fierce commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Just think about it; if The Islamic Republic of Iran wipes the illegitimate Zionist enemy off the map, there will be fewer carbon emissions emanating from the Middle East---particularly since the illegitimate Zionist enemy is a first world industrial state which generates substantially more carbon emissions than all of its neighbors.
Additionally, if The Islamic Republic of Iran successfully wipes out the illegitimate Zionist enemy, it will bring "a peaceful, easy, feeling" (my apologies to The Eagles) to The Islamic Republic of Iran.

Therefore, a nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran will result in both the reduction of carbon emissions and the proliferation of peace.