system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why shouldn't Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons?

There always seems to be a lot of talk about Iran getting ready to have their own nuclear weapons and I don’t really understand why the US (and other countries) is/are talking about it like it’s the worst thing that could ever happen. Why are the US & Russia (and others) “allowed” to have them if these people also say “you shouldn’t have them”. I don’t understand why any country thinks it can forbid other countries doing what they’re also doing. Thanks in advance. :)
gpt
Basically its to do with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which almost all countries signed.

You're right that it basically says "No-one is allowed to get nuclear weapons if they didn't already have them when they signed the treaty", which seems a little unfair. However, the treaty is what it is, and every country in the world has signed up except from India, Israel and Pakistan. Additionally North Korea originally signed, but then pulled out, and Taiwan is a bit of a odd-case, but they're effectively covered.

So the situation is that Iran has signed an agreement that says they won't develop nuclear weapons, and if they were attempting to then that'd be a violation of the treaty.

Whether or not they're attempting to make nuclear weapons is something open for debate. Iran says that, whilst they are doing things that look like they might be making nuclear weapons (enriching uranium) that is only for the purpose of their Nuclear Power station and related civilian power research, and thus it is allowed under the treaty.

The US on the other hand doesn't believe Iran and thinks that it is doing work to develop nuclear weapons, and thus imposes restrictions on Iran as best it can.

In the end it is basically the big boys with all the power bullying smaller countries into not having nuclear weapons, whilst they hypocritically keep them themselves. Whether or not you think that's fair, the fact is we are alot safer as a world with less nuclear weapons in, so perhaps the ends justify the means.


Its also worth noting that all the countries that aren't covered by the NPT (Israel, Pakistan, India, North Korea) have subsequently gone on to make nuclear weapons.