Why the World Fears a Nuclear-Armed Iran More Than Israel

Middle East – Global anxiety over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East often circles around Israel, the region’s undeclared nuclear power. But behind the scenes, it's Iran’s nuclear ambitions that trigger the deepest fears among world powers — and not without reason.

A Different Kind of Threat

While Israel is believed to possess a well-guarded nuclear arsenal, its long-standing policy of "nuclear ambiguity" and Western alignment places it in a different strategic light. Iran, however, is openly adversarial to Israel and many Gulf Arab states, and is heavily involved in proxy wars across the region through its support of armed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Experts and diplomats worry that a nuclear-armed Iran wouldn’t just shift regional power—it could turn nuclear capability into a force multiplier for its regional allies.

“The concern is not just that Iran might use a bomb, but that it could use the threat of one to back its proxies,” said a former Western intelligence official on condition of anonymity.

Nuclear Umbrella for Militants?

Iran’s links to non-state actors raise a dangerous hypothetical: what if these groups—classified by many as terrorist organizations—gain access to nuclear knowledge or materials?

While Iran has publicly denied any interest in developing nuclear weapons, its past enrichment levels and curbs on IAEA inspections suggest otherwise, according to the UN nuclear watchdog's own reports.

A Trigger for Arms Race

Regional rivals, especially Saudi Arabia, have warned that if Iran goes nuclear, they will pursue the same.

“We do not want nuclear weapons, but we cannot be left exposed,” a Saudi diplomat told Al Arabiya earlier this year.

That prospect could shatter decades of global arms control efforts under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Iran is a signatory — unlike Israel.

The Double Standard Debate

Despite this, critics across the Muslim world highlight a double standard: Israel’s nuclear capability is tolerated, even supported by its allies, while Iran is heavily sanctioned for even approaching the threshold.

However, Western governments argue that Iran's aggressive foreign policy, proxy warfare, and history of defying inspections make it a risk of a different order.

As tensions rise in the Middle East, the fear isn’t just about bombs-it is about who might use them, and how. And in a region where statecraft and militia warfare are intertwined, that fear is sharper than ever when Iran is involved.