The West (a.k.a. energy consumers) has a choice. An ugly choice, but a choice nonetheless: Iran without nuclear weapons, or cheap oil–cheap here defined as something approximating ~$60 (if you can call that cheap).
Rest assured, the label will fit if oil’s at, say, $100 a barrel. In any case, the West (along with China, Japan and other dependents on imported oil) can’t eat their energy cake laced with geopolitically friendly frosting and have it too. Or so it seems, as news of Tehran’s tenacity on its nuclear program continues to invade, harass and otherwise threaten the outlook on matters of war and peace, energy and security.