On day 10 of the Iranian revolution, the Ayatollah has fled

[againstthegrain]

You sort of left out the part where Iran has suffered a lot of material and personal losses also.

War is hell. If this war is to be ended and not just delayed into the future, both sides need to face reality. Are they seriously doing that? I am not sure.

The losses although severe are just temporary setbacks and the new leadership is bound to be more ruthless than the old. Iranians aren't going to forget how to enrich uranium, make drones, and kill protestors just because they're under new management.

 

[RambleTamble]

At best, an "agreement" will be made that is no better than the one that was torn up. This will be used as propaganda to suggest it was all worthwhile, and victory has been achieved. That is despite nothing having been changed. That is, at best.

At worse, as suggested in this thread, nuclear weapons will deployed. Millions will die. But not simply millions in Iran - the winds don't honor borders. In fact, people will suffer for decades, long after the reasons for this war have been forgotten. It will normalize the use of nuclear weapons - I mean, if they can be used in Iran, why not Ukraine? And so, we spiral to mutual destruction. US allies will shun the nation. More nations will seek the capability.

How can that be right, or just? If hating another country was reason enough for nuclear Armageddon, then we'd not be writing back and forth. We'd be living in caves.

If Iran does get nuclear weapons, they won't use them any more than Pakistan or India or North Korea any other nuclear power uses them. It will simply be a deterrent to prevent the U.S. or any other country from invading. Hell, they might even decide to be more responsible in world affairs.