The area where “communication and negotiation” leaves off and “blackmail” begins is both very broad and very gray. Nonetheless, a nation emerging from theocracy is likely a better fit for us than one embracing an apocalyptic form of theocracy - especially if they are nuke capable.

One can never really know what goes on in the mind of the other guy. Is Iran touting a non existent capability to rapidly develop a nuclear warhead to fit on a burgeoning ballistic missile capability? Did they learn nothing from Saddam’s desire for strategic ambiguity as to whether or not he actually had WMDs? Nonetheless, when you spend almost half a century getting the mob to shout “Death to America” and you couple that with statements that you can have nukes in a few weeks the conservative (as in cautious, not left-right) course becomes one of keeping that from happening. It’s the kind of implied threat that raises the ante considerably in any conflict. Preemption becomes a very reasonable choice.