Could Iran have potential? With right leadership?

[Eddie Dane]

Something I've been pondering.

China and India are making huge steps forward and growing into major international players.

Iran/Persia is traditionally one of the great regional powers, and if you back far enough, a superpower.

After the revolution the country morphed into a kind of theocracy and the oils and gas revenues have been used to appease the poor. There is no significant investment in the oil infrastructure and the leadership is on a constant collision course with the west. Even in times when the west has moderate leaders looking for compromise.

Could Iran extract itself from the current situation and become a major economic power with manufacturing and/or knowledge-based industries? Or are there other factors besides the political leadership and crazy leadership?

[Undesired Walrus]

It depends on the Ayatollahs, really. If they got a moderate, supreme leader, then there would be potential.

The right person to ask would be an Iranian, of course.

[Darth Rotor]

After the revolution the country morphed into a kind of theocracy and the oils and gas revenues have been used to appease the poor.
A different approach than bread and circuses, but it is at least somewhat effective in the short term.
There is no significant investment in the oil infrastructure and the leadership is on a constant collision course with the west. Even in times when the west has moderate leaders looking for compromise.
Ding!
Could Iran extract itself from the current situation and become a major economic power with manufacturing and/or knowledge-based industries?

Probably could.
Or are there other factors besides the political leadership and crazy leadership?
Competition from India, China, other parts of Asia.

DR

[JihadJane]

Perhaps the crazy CIA could organize a coup d'état to restore the democracy they destroyed. :)

[Darth Rotor]

Perhaps the crazy CIA could organize a coup d'état to restore the democracy they destroyed. :)
What democracy?