Since the Iranian revolution, sometimes called the Islamic revolution, relations between the United States and Iran have been very uneasy as well as unsteady. The recent election in 2005 of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has made the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons that much closer to becoming a reality.

Iran obtaining nuclear weapons could cause serious issues for the everyday U.S. citizen along with the American influence in the Middle East. This is a very important issue – not only for the Middle East, but also for the United States – and the United States needs to become more involved.

If Iran were to become nuclear-capable, the American influence would be significantly weakened in the Middle East. Due to its nuclear capabilities, Iran could pressure other eastern nations into their demands while ignoring the demands of the United States. Now why would the United States care if eastern countries ignored our demands? The ability for Arab nations to work with the United States would decline because they felt threatened by a nuclear capable Iran, and America would be seen as weaker because it failed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The diminishing nuclear influence of the United States in the Middle East would cause a nuclear arms race among the Arab nations, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Increasing instability in the Middle East would cause more nuclear production, and the likeliness of nuclear weapons falling into hands of terrorists would greatly increase. The more countries that posses nuclear weapons, the greater the chances would be of nuclear weapons actually being used.

While everyday American citizens may not be immediately concerned with Iran’s growing nuclear capability, there could be some affects that directly effect you tomorrow.  Iran’s nuclear capability would cause gas prices to immediately skyrocket because Iran would be able to convince other Middle Eastern nations to be afraid of not succumbing to a nuclear capable Tehran. Nations such as Saudi Arabia and other  Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries would fear Iran and have to give in to their demands to reduce the production of oil, which would raise its cost, forcing you to pay for it at the pump. Gas prices have increased, but this would cause them to skyrocket if Iran were to dominate the Middle Eastern countries in the nuclear arms race.

The possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons is a very important issue and needs to be brought to attention. This is not just a Middle Eastern issue, but also an American issue and can directly affect everyday U.S. citizens. Most importantly, the United States needs to become directly involved in the nuclear arms race in Iran and needs to make sure they do not become nuclear capable

Jason Unger is a junior majoring in political science.