The notion that the United States desires Iran to possess nuclear weapons is fundamentally inaccurate. Official U.S. policy, spanning administrations of both parties, explicitly aims to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. This stance is rooted in concerns about regional stability, nuclear proliferation, and the potential for an altered balance of power in the Middle East.
The U.S. government believes a nuclear-armed Iran could destabilize the region by triggering a nuclear arms race among other Middle Eastern countries. Furthermore, there are concerns that a nuclear Iran could be more emboldened to support proxy groups and engage in aggressive actions, thereby increasing regional conflict. The potential for nuclear materials to fall into the hands of terrorist organizations is another critical concern driving the U.S. non-proliferation policy.