Nuclear weapons can make countries act more cautiously
Psychology
The presence of a nuclear shadow can paradoxically force aggressive states to abandon their most effective unconventional tactics to avoid a total catastrophe.
In a 2026 clash between Iran and its nuclear-armed adversaries, the expected wave of asymmetric terror attacks never arrived. Despite a decades-long history of using proxy groups and unconventional warfare, Iranian leadership chose a path of unexpected restraint. This shift highlights a strategic paradox: the closer a nation gets to the brink of nuclear conflict, the more it abandons the very tactics that used to be its signature.