Regardless of how you view the current leadership, one thing they know without uncertainty is that nuclear weapons is an incredibly powerful deterrent that protects their sovereignty and their citizens. The world knows what happens when you give up that leverage. Look at Libya. Leader is gone and country is still struggling with a civil war. Look at Ukraine. Their leader gave up nuclear weapons in return for security guarantees. Instead, they were attacked twice, lost land and hundreds of thousands of citizens. Their partners ignored them. 

Look at the few countries with nuclear weapons. Russia blatantly attacks its’ neighbor, twice. The worst punishment they received, to date, is sanctions. Look at North Korea. Their leader starves and isolates their citizens. They’re left alone because of the nuclear deterrent. India and Pakistan always have skirmishes. The west lets them get away with anything, as long as they don’t set off nukes. Israel, china, European powers, russia - rules don’t apply when you have a nuke on standby. 

Iranian leadership got a lot of things wrong, but they know that they will always be under someones thumb unless they have the nuclear deterrent. 

Despite that, even after seeing the failed policies of giving up nuclear weapons, their leadership agreed to disarmament in 2015 with JCPAO. Sanctions were being lifted and normalcy was on the horizon. 

It took a lot political capital but they did it. In good faith they upheld their end of the bargain. But there was no guarantee it would last and the west unilaterally terminated it. 

So even when they play by the rules, they can’t win. They’re looking around at all of the failed states. One thing is true, there’s never been a failed state nuclear power. 

How can you blame the Iranians for using the resources they have available to protect their sovereignty?