[platinumrad]

If a button existed that magically turned Iran into a secular-ish democracy(-ish) like Turkey then, yes, I would expect the President of the United States to press it.

No such button exists, and it's increasingly clear that this war will leave the entire world far worse off while further entrenching the current Iranian regime.

[ACCount37]

"Far worse off" how exactly? "Entrenching" how exactly?

Iranian regime wasn't doing that well even when it wasn't actively bombed. And "rally around the flag" only goes so far in a country that has been killing protestors by the thousands.

I don't see this war ruining Iran's regime overnight as is. But if it comes up with a sustained effort to pressure Iran, or a ground operation to topple the regime directly, it well might.

[overfeed]

> "Far worse off" how exactly? "Entrenching" how exactly?

Hardliners and the IRGC have significantly more power than before, and however few moderates that remain have much less political capital and are at much greater risk of being purged.

If Iran doesn't win significant concessions tayt the sucker-punch attacks will never be repeated again[1], they are guaranteed to sprint towards the minimum viable nuke.

1. Bibi will refuse, obviously, and Americas capacity to leash him is questionable.

[ACCount37]

"Moderates" in Iran were consecutively dismantled and purged for decades. A country that has moderates providing a meaningful counterbalance to hardliners doesn't kill protestors by thousands.

Pre-war, the situation was bad enough that dropping bombs on Iran's key decision-makers might have actually made the government more moderate on average. Not that it matters much. "More moderate" in context of Iran's government isn't anywhere near "moderate" either way.

[overfeed]

The "Nothing ventured, nothing lost" attitude would make a lot more sense if the region would go back to the status quo ante after the "excursion."