Of course the lie here—or illogic assumption—is that you could ONLY conduct a deal with the Islamic/Anti-USA government of Iran.
While allowing the revolution, indeed, promoting and helping it succeed, would not give an even bigger payoff deal with a more moderate, pro-USA government?
WTF, over?
The 1979 Revolution had a coalition of business owners, students, the intelligentsia, the mullahs, and Iranian expats. The mullahs hijacked that revolution. Currently, anything would be better than the mullahs.
IMO there is still a wellspring of goodwill towards America among the Iranian people. It has been suppressed by the theocracy in much the same way that the Shah used his secret police to quell any opposition. Iran has been suffering a brain drain for many years with many young people leaving. The fertility rate in Iran is 1.97, a little below the replacement level of 2.1.
The Mullahs have always vied for political power in Iran. The White Revolution was an attempt by the Shah for reform, but it angered the mullahs and land owners. These elements would eventually lead to his downfall.
We should be doing everything we can, overtly and covertly, to take down the current regime in Iran.