Middle East proliferation threat without technogy transfer

The Times (UK) recently reported that six Arab states announced plans to acquire nuclear power.

The countries involved were named by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Tunisia and the UAE have also shown interest.
Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert on nuclear proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that it was clear that the sudden drive for nuclear expertise was to provide the Arabs with a “security hedge”.

I'm willing to be we likely won't see this as a publicly stated policy, but one reason to check Iran's nuclear ambitions is to keep the Middle East from proliferating.

Perhaps it is already too late. Once a desire to seek nuclear power is officially announced, it would be difficult politically to backtrack. Still, stopping Iran may delay that eventuality, by removing the source of urgency.