[ReptileMan]

They "only" need to topple the current teocracy and put secular government in place while not turning into failed state. With Iran military being the second largest military in Iran after the revolutionary guard that is next to impossible. It will lead to situation which will make Syria look enviable.

Otherwise you are right - Iran is the natueal ally in the region. And it was such until 1979.

[mikeash]

Why does Iran need to ditch their theocracy to be our ally, but Saudi Arabia gets to keep theirs?

That’s what I don’t understand. The Iranian government is a bunch of oppressive fuckheads and stands for many things we oppose... but that’s even more the case with Saudi Arabia, so we treat like kings.

[ReptileMan]

Because their theocracy refers to US as great satan? That complicates any possible alliance a bit. I think that they may also hold grudge for US support of US' best buddy Saddam Hussein during Iran - Iraq war that cost them a nice chunk of a million lives.

[mikeash]

Would they still do that if we made friends with them?

[ReptileMan]

That could take decades to accomplish and would require US to throw Israel under the bus. And the US would not win anything of value.

[GordonS]

> Because their theocracy refers to US as great satan

In all honesty, the US has given Iran plenty of reasons for relations to be somewhat frosty.

In more recent times, Trump has been rather vocal against Iran with his trademark agressive Twitter 'pish' - so there's plenty of name calling on both sides, and hardly justifies the current state of affairs.

[Pica_soO]

Saudi Arabias school book dont have nice words for america either. The 9/11 cause was that a whole generation of islamic men grew up hating infidels (russians & americans alike).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabian_textbook_controv...