With so many nuclear armed nations threatening Iran, Iran's leaders feel that backing down is no longer an option, and that a credible nuclear capacity is essential to Iran's safety. Iran successfully conducts an underground nuclear test and declares that it has an arsenal of 'fewer than thirty' nuclear weapons. Iran claims these weapons will be used only in self defense.
In response to the test, as promised, Israel also conducts a successful underground test. Israel declares its nuclear arsenal contains 100-200 weapons of various sizes. Israel also declares that a nuclear Iran is 'an existential threat to Israel and a threat to the region as a whole', and claims that if Iran does not dismantle its nuclear program, Israel is prepared to 'act pre-emptively' to destroy Iran's nuclear capacity.
| Invade Iran | Forcibly disarm Iran's nuclear program. Enter with coalition forces for a quick but heavy-handed strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. (Realism) |
| Unilaterally launch cruise missiles | Target Iran's known nuclear sites. Perhaps not as thorough as an invasion, but comes at a lower cost in terms of personnel and military resources. (Realism) |
| Launch unilateral nuclear strikes | Direct US warheads at Iran's nuclear sites. Leave no room for error. Devastate Iran's nuclear capacity. (Realism) |
| Hold bilateral talks | Try to bring Israel and Iran to the table to agree to an armistice and a reduction in nuclear capacity. (Liberalism) |
| Use multilateral negotiations | Try to diffuse the conflict. Include relevant Iranian allies as well as key Israeli allies to help diffuse tension between Iran and Israel. (Liberalism) |