Iran's current situation is because their dictator DOES have a position about nuclear energy and nukes.

Energy is fine, but nukes are haram. This is THE reason they haven't built any nukes the last 40+ years.

Changing a religious decree of that nature requires a very big excuse which has never existed. Israel and the US threatening Iran's existence and threatening to kill millions of Muslims is the ONE thing I can think of that would allow Khamenei an "out" to actually build a nuke.