You know, were it not for the Islamic zealots in political and religious leadership in Iran, Iran is a very pro-Western nation (looking at the general populace) and historically has been a solid bastion against Arabia (looking even far back into Persian history). While many scoff at its ‘technological achievements’ ....and for good reasons since many of them are either really exaggerated, or at best are just warmed over versions of something else ...the fact remains that Iranian technicians do have some level of capability, and were they free the nation would seriously go far. The sooner Iran is free of its asinine political leadership the better it will be for the nation.
It is best to view Iran as similarity to Poland or Ukraine in the 1970s. I thought it was also most Muslim scholars in their golden age were persian anyhow.