I think Tectol's post is an excellent review of the current situation, though, of course, books can and have been written on this subject.

On the one point of Iran being easily defendable in the event of a ground invasion, I would just say I don't think they would bother. It would be another attempt to bomb another country back to the stone ages. Needless to say, this would create untold hardship and misery and I can't fathom how intelligent human beings could consider supporting this.

A much more extensive and penetrating global study of all options to contain nuclear proliferation needs to be undertaken and completed before it is too late for all of us. Who could take the lead on this and how to get the ball rolling?

O.F.