[MHGinTN]

Go back further in Iranian history.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

My point is that the IRI is the culmination of a downward spiral that began at the turn of the past century.

The persecution of the Bahai, the 5,000 or so remaining Mizrahi/Sephardic Jews, Sufis, and any other political or religious dissident in that country, as well as the cross-border raids against the PKK and other Kurdish separatists, is simply an instrument used by a regime that has no other viable political options.

It's like Ahmadinejad's insipid attempt at ingratiating himself with the opposition by allowing women to attend soccer matches.