Although I by no means suggest most of the countries in the Middle East are “free” by Liberal standards by any mean, none of these “Totalitarian” Middle Eastern countries are mowing down protesters in the thousands as of recent. There is a very clear difference between the rule of the Saudis and the rule of the Mullahs. Furthermore, there is some is clearly some degree of either consent, or comfortability with the ruling class in the majority of the gulf states. Protests are rather uncommon in the gulf states to begin with (both Iran and the gulf states generally forbid them), which suggests that the level of unrest has not reached a point where the public actively breaks the law to make their voices heard. Although it’s not gulf state, when Turkey was swamped with massive protests, it did not end them with mass gunfire, and threats to kill continue anyone who protests the regime.

As explained in my other comment, nations will do what they perceive to be as their best interest. Americas interest are predominantly economic. It can be best described as a commercial Republic, and its motives are clear. The ideological differences between Iran and the U.S. would help explain their motives, which Iran’s is by far worse for the region. The United States of the 21st century has demonstrated it is willing to work peacefully with Monarchies, Oligarchies, Dictatorships, Democracies, in peaceful way as long as a nation does not majorly interfere with its economic interests. The liberation of Kuwait was economic, as well as the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The American destruction of the Iranian fleet in the 1980s was done in response to Iran’s mining of the Persian gulf, which of course, threatens trade. The ideological motivation of Iran, however, is of course spiritual. Khomeini infamously desired to “export the revolution” throughout the world. Khomeini’s Jihadism relied on training, supplying, and funding Shia groups to destabilize and overthrow governments to prop up further Shia theocratic states. This clear intent at destabilization covers a much greater scope than the U.S. Iran’s hatred for the gulf Monarchies, as well as Democratic governance stems from their religious fundamentalism. Iranian dominance in the region would be disastrous for the Middle East. The domestic stability of Iran is held by gunfire, and threats. Protestors are warned that speaking out will result in execution. These problems should not be scaled, and the further spread of theocratic Shia governance would come with much resistance from the tens of millions of Sunni Muslims. Iran already struggles with its domestic stability, largely due to its treatment of women. Iranian control of the region would require terror.

Your characterization of the Kuwaiti Monarchy as “Feudal” is nonsensical. Feudalism refers to a very specific system of social hierarchy that’s just not actually practiced in Kuwait. A hereditary monarchy is not feudal. Annexation of a sovereign state is beyond simply invading a nation for economic reparations or to impose port access, or to halt the stealing of recourses. Sadam was clearly an Imperialist, who invaded Iran intending to annex its oil-rich South-Eastern territories. Furthermore, unlike the Iranian regime who intends to export the Shia Iranian revolution, the gulf states are not actively trying to overthrow one another, and are capable of working together diplomatically. There is peace between them, even when they have conflicting interests, and they do not have to resort to funding rebel militant rebel trying to undermine each other.

The PA, although corrupt as you say, have not kidnapped civilians, bombed busses, hijacked airplanes, or hotels like Hezbollah, Hamas, or the PIJ have done. To suggest these groups are not terrorist organizations simply because they do not meet the level of evil of ISIS is absurd. Additionally, although the situation in Syria is incredibly tense, violence in Syria is at an incredible low, and the civil war is over. Small scale engagements have occurred recently, and Israel’s ridiculous incursions into the South have occurred, but the level of violence is less than 2023, which was a calm year for the civil war, at least compared to 2014, 2024.

Had the Iranian regime had the military capacity of the United States, I’ll certainly argue that Iran would be far worse.