Also let’s remember what is exactly reason why Iran look like it look in the first place: it’s because USA couped democratically elected center-left government, propped up the shah, helped him exterminate any and all leftists there so the only possible opposition force that remained was the religious extremists (who btw were also kept on hold by west as alternative).
The Shah was couped with the help of leftist who got backstabbed by the islamists. They weren’t the only possible opposition, they were just the most politically savvy opposition.
Also let’s remember what is exactly reason why Iran look like it look in the first place: it’s because USA couped democratically elected center-left government, propped up the shah, helped him exterminate any and all leftists there so the only possible opposition force that remained was the religious extremists (who btw were also kept on hold by west as alternative).
The Shah was couped with the help of leftist who got backstabbed by the islamists. They weren’t the only possible opposition, they were just the most politically savvy opposition.