Is Iran acting as a puppet?

The following quote suggests that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is seeking to test the Trump administration's limits and provoke a military response:

The question is why would they want Trump to be a 'Twitter tiger,' with bite instead of just bark?

Imo, they would only be provoking a military response if they are acting as a puppet for some other interests that would be immune from any such military response.

So, for example, there are investors who stand/stood to benefit from the Iran nuclear deal that has been thwarted since Trump's election; and those interests may not care about sacrificing Iranian people and property by provoking a military response from the US.

If they are upset about Iran being barred from nuclear power development, however, why aren't they content to resolve it with words instead of actions?

Are they so hell-bent on having a nuclear-powered economy in Iran that they can't think of any other solution that wouldn't provoke military conflict?

Why is it worth putting people and property in harm's way to provoke/engage the US militarily? Maybe because those who stand to benefit will be nowhere near the conflict when and if it ensues.