And I have news: if they got nuclear weapons, they wouldn’t use them. They’d be as rational as North Korea, who have had nukes for 20 years, and never came remotely close to using them.
WE (whoever we are) get nukes for defense; THEY want nukes for offense.
It’s a misperception.
But they are not close. And they have always been willing to negotiate about that issue. About missiles & support for their regional allies…not so much.