Talk about unintended consequences.  Iran is isolated as punishment, of necessity plows its profits into internal investment, and is now in a better position than the rest of the region.  And the bigger picture, what Iran should do now, is definitely a tangle.  Long term arrangements would be best, as you said, but how many are available?  The private credit card is maxed, and the neolibs won't let the public card out of the ice box.  And China may have the ultimate, incurable, economic disease.  Yes, definitely a tangle.