What Paul doesn’t understand is that the Ayatollah Khomeini was downright moderate compared to the nutjubs running the show now.
They’re hellbent on bringing the Mahdi to earth by washing the world in blood. The Ayatollah thought they were psycho and kept them from having real power when he was alive and he was an evil bastard.
“They’re hellbent on bringing the Mahdi to earth by washing the world in blood.”
I think that is why there is so much domestic discord and strife. The sane Persians realize they will be caught up in the same retributive firestorms as the aspiring martyrs, and are desperate to stop it.