Oh, I don’t discount the intelligence of the “elites”. But the Iranians, Persians in the majority, are a very different people in nearly every respect, language, history, culture, and sophistication of thought. They themselves look down on the Arabs as quasi-savages. Kissinger’s point was that in terms of regional interests (and until Carter managed to screw things up) an alliance between the Iranians and Americans made and still makes geopolitical sense. Pre-Khomeini relations with Israel were likewise reasonably friendly. There are still, or were before Obama did nothing to help the nascent insurrection in 2011, a lot of Iranians who viewed America favorably. For their survival they have to keep such thoughts to themselves but the underground sentiment, largely irrelevant under the present circumstances since we’re being run by a pack of idiots and crypto-Sunnis, and Iran is under the thumb of fanatics wanting to bring on the end times, still exists.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree, and suggest most probably the mentioned difference was one reason why the Shah had to go as far as Carter et al were concerned. Human rights and democracy were excuses.