Iran has nothing to do with security or proliferation or any of the otherf nonsense. Iran is another oil grab by Washington and the Saudis.

Peace with Iran is the worst possible outcome, because the oil keeps flowing, a hostile-ish state entrenches itself in one of the most useful positions on the game board, and it decreases the financial leverage of both the Saudis and the Washington Oil cabal.

War would push up prices, constrict supplies, enhance the stability of the rather wobbly Saudi regimes (at least they believe it would - whether it would actually do that is a different issue), and increase the possibility of a sympathetic new government (qv 'puppet') in Iran.

Threatening a nuclear first strike seems harsh, but it's all part of the same campaign of political pressure.