Any country we go against is only as tough as we allow them to be. Think about it. Does Iran have ICBMs? I think Iran is just doing a lot of saber rattling - trying to maintain itself as a power. World peace has been maintained by hostile pairs - Iran and Iraq, India and Pakistan, the U.S. and the USSR. Iran has found that it allied itself with the wrong side of the bloc, so to speak, and its old enemy now has a rather powerful group of allies. It's also now surrounded by the forces of the U.S., which it has a museum dedicated to the hatred of. It is trying to gain nuclear weapons, which we really try to prevent the proliferation of in the hands of unstable nations. Fight or flight syndrome - and flight isn't really an option when you are surrounded. Best course of action - appear big and bold and hope the potential adversary backs down.