A Nuclear Iran?

So the Iranians have finally mastered the nuclear fuel cycle at the laboratory level. Is it only a negotiating tactic to make it clear that Iran’s nuclear program cannot be touched or is it a step closer to Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons? What options does the US have? Military option has been a hot topic of debate after Seymour Hersh’s article but it is unlikely that a military strike will have the kind of effect the US government is hoping for. It might further accelerate Iran’s advance towards nuclear weapons. History suggests that once political elites in a state make a decision about pursuing nuclear weapons, there is very little the international community can do. The best alternative is to reconcile to limited Iranian uranium enrichment while making sure that effective mechanisms are in place to prevent cheating. All the huffing and puffing notwithstanding, the US and its European partners have little real leverage vis-à-vis Iran in the current global climate, especially as China and Russia are not willing to jeopardize their special relationships with Iran. A nuclear weapon Iran is not in India’s interest, given the complexities of Middle Eastern politics and India’s interests in the region. How far India would be willing to go if the US and its allies decide to get tough with Iran remains to be seen?