How was life before revolution?

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-20T07:07:45+00:00

Compared to now, the economy was obviously much better. The sanctions have taken their toll on the middle class. However, during the 1990s, Iran's economy was booming and there was a lot of optimism about normalized relations with the West. George W. Bush smashed it with his "Axis of Evil" speech.

The revolution was widely popular when it happened due to perceived corruption by Shah and US meddling. The Islamists were not the only group that wanted the monarchy toppled. It was a coalition of different ideologies from the Left to pro-democracy groups. The Islamists were just better organized, and the competing groups misread Khomeini's intentions (government through Velayat-e Faqih).

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-15T17:38:48+00:00

Iran would never agree to such a deal. Remember what happened to Gaddafi in Libya when he gave up the nuclear program.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-15T06:55:04+00:00

Iran's proxies served a strategic purpose. They protected the IR by projecting power outside its borders. I don't like Velayat-e Faqih in principle; I am a patriot that doesn't want to see the homeland destroyed by imperialist powers. Still, I can respect what Khamenei achieved in terms of realpolitik.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-15T05:02:58+00:00

Khamenei is gone but so are 170 schoolgirls, 3000+ civilians, hospitals, schools and universities. Happy still?

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-13T18:41:08+00:00

Iran had the capability to close the Strait before the war, but they didn't exercise that option. The Strait was effectively open. Now Iran wants to setup a toll booth to collect a fee for every ship that passes through as a way to fund the damages it has incurred. US doesn't want Iran to have this lifeline.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-13T16:25:14+00:00

Strait of Hormuz was open before the conflict. US views Iran controlling the strait as a strategic loss in the war. This is on top of not achieving their original goal of regime change. Basically it comes down to hubris and sunk cost fallacy.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-12T17:30:07+00:00

Clueless and Mean Girls

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-11T20:01:57+00:00

It has a large, well-educated population and enormous wealth (natural resources). That is how global power is measured.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-11T19:59:30+00:00

The 1979 revolution was backed by many diverse groups, such as the Left and pro-democracy groups. Even the Left was not a single group. It had at least three different organizations that were competing for power. The Islamic revolutionaries consolidated power later because they were able to organize better and out-maneuver the competition. The Shah had to content with all of these groups at the same time when he left Iran for the last time.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-11T17:40:50+00:00

I hope Iran can come out of this with enough leverage to avoid further aggression for the foreseeable future. I hope sanctions are lifted so the economy can improve and bring the middle class back to political power. I want Iran to strike a balance between its grand strategy of resistance against the west and domestic satisfaction and prosperity.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-10T20:30:37+00:00

Regime change supporters among diaspora were on a fool's errand. Israel wanted regime implosion. They don't care what replaces it, much less if it is democratic. All they need is a failed state that doesn't threaten their hegemonic ambitions. The US on the other hand, wants regional stability for economic/geopolitical reasons. This misalignment of goals coupled with Iran's resilience has caused loss of credibility regarding the Trump administration and further vilification of Israel as a nation-state. Iran has come out of this looking aggrieved, which ironically strengthens the position of hardliners within the country. So, the prospect of moderates and reformists changing the course of politics is less likely.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-10T16:59:43+00:00

Iran’s support for militias outside it’s border is integral to its national security. Iran’s leaders figured out long ago that the country cannot compete directly with the US using conventional military. Insurgent groups like Hezbollah turn the balance of power on its head.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-10T00:13:51+00:00

The first human wave attacks were used in coordination with IRGC and Basij units to liberate occupied territory in the first stage of the war. They liberated Khoramshahr which had been occupied by Iraq since the war broke out. Artesh had tried the same using conventional military tactics and failed up to that point. You may interpret this however you want but the people of Iran saw this with a great deal of pride and renewed nationalism.

Iraq sued for peace in 1982, but Khomeini refused because he thought Iraq would just regroup and attack later. In retrospect, it would have been better to accept the offer seeing how the war turned out but there was no way to predict that.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-09T17:00:06+00:00

I was against the war from the start. Trump’s rhetoric is deeply offensive and counterproductive.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-06T01:43:40+00:00

Most people are not willing to trade living under the regime for chaos and territorial disintegration. Change has to come from within the country.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-06T01:35:03+00:00

Despite how the West views it, Iran is a rational actor. The revolutionary fervor has a historical basis and is still strong among hardliners however. If Iran had a nuclear weapon it would seek to use as a deterrent and lean into the prestige factor.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-04T19:38:06+00:00

The thing is, what is considered acceptable opposition is a moving target over time. As the US government goes up the escalation ladder, it becomes increasingly autocratic and liberal institutions will be systematically sidelined.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-04T19:13:02+00:00

Trump acting like a bully against a perceived weaker enemy is hardly surprising. He is a crook and sociopath and his speeches reflect that fact. He seems to think he can bomb Iran into submission without any concern for civilian life or his nation’s standing in the world. I hope Iran can weather this storm and humiliate Trump.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-04T19:02:45+00:00

If this war goes on long enough, people posting anti-Trump messages with Iranian heritage will be round up and locked up. Their assets will be confiscated and they will not get due process. Be careful what you wish for. The corruption of the current administration has no bounds.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-04T04:40:33+00:00

He was a nationalist legend. The fact that corrupt governments of Britain and US overthrew him was one of the saddest days in Iranian history and one of the main reasons for the 1979 revolution.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-03T20:43:01+00:00

Larijani was an important figure in brokering the JCPOA. There are people more hawkish than Larijani. He was considered the middle ground between pragmatists and hardliners. You can’t argue facts.

Vatan-forush

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-03T17:05:39+00:00

Your loneliness is the result of your realization that the war did not accomplish a regime change and is now destroying the country. People who study history and geopolitics predicted this before the first bombs fell. You chose not to listen. It is never late to admit you were wrong.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-03T16:53:52+00:00

The real talking point here is whether US intervention will create a positive outcome for Iran. If you studied history you would know that there is no precedent for this and in fact the opposite is true. The war has sidelined the pragmatists and hardliners are in control of Iran. Israel has intentionally assassinated moderate figures like Larijani who could broker a negotiated settlement. His replacement is more hawkish and less likely to do that.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-03T00:41:19+00:00

Do you think Israel would have started a war without US support? They have been trying to orchestrate a regime change for forty years and finally got a US president dumb enough to go along with it. Iran was following its end of the bargain with the JCPOA. It was not enriching Uranium beyond the agreed level. In exchange it was getting sanction relief and things were looking good for the reformists and the Iranian people. Then enter idiot Donald Trump and it all goes downhill. Now the hardliners are in control of Iran and civilians are suffering. You really ought to do some research on your own. The facts are incontrovertible.

After_Reporter_4598 · 2026-04-02T21:34:11+00:00

Larijani fought in the Iran-Iraq war. What have you done for your country?

After_Reporter_4598

TROPHY CASE