MAD - about Iran nuke power (pun intended)

The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting article about the flap surrounding Iran's nuclear power controversy.

Generally, it says that if Russia supplies the fuel for Iran's nuclear (not nuculear) power plant, then the likelihood of them developing their own enriched uranium technology declines. Developing this technology is so expensive. That is if it isn't given (figuratively speaking) to you by the Chinese or "others".

That got me thinking ... always a dangerous thing. I'm not sure that even I believe what I'm about to say.

It's just an idea, one that I think may apply to Iran, but is shakier regarding N. Korea. Let's see if I can make it stick.

• The Nuclear Genie is out of the bottle.
• Nuclear power does provide a lot of relatively cheap power, with controllable side-effects, if done correctly.
• Producing Nuclear power correctly requires existing expertise.
• Existing Nuclear Powers have the expertise.
• Russia, France and Germany, are existing Nuclear powers.
• All three countries are frothing at the mouth to help Iran (as they were for oil production facilities in Iraq).
• Inexpensive power is a quick way to increase the living standard of any nation.
• Increased living standards always lead to a more enlightened citizenry (I know, a somewhat shaky assumption).
• Nations with increased living standards have a lower tolerance for radical action Internationally (they have more to lose).
• Russia needs cash. See the item above, remembering they still have more nuclear bombs than any nation but the US.
• Iran, the Middle East, and maybe even Europe and the US, could benefit from an empowered, modern Iran with a middle-class their leaders have to answer to.
  
• Even if Iran used their nuclear ability to generate nuclear weapons, how long would it take them to match the cold war capabilities of the U.S.S.R.
• MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction, though distasteful, got us through the cold war. It did that because those on both sides realized that use of the bomb would result in their "territory" becoming a sea of molten glass.
• The US still has it's stockpile in place and ready for use.
• If you were Iran, would you produce nuclear weapons, then risk using them, in hopes of becoming the world's leading purveyor of Iranian Nuclear Glass?
  

I readily admit that you can never be sure what a fanatic will do. But, I do find it difficult to believe that any government will make Moves to Assure its own Destruction.

I also admit that such a policy would be a huge gamble. The gamble might be the diplomatic equivalent of the parent telling the teenager that it's their decision to take a risk. That is, encourage responsibility by showing faith in their intelligence, all the while, holding the Nuclear option.