1. A visibly corrupt and economically incompetent
ruling class.
2. Lack of natural checks on regime
misconduct (a free press, free speech and free, open and fair elections).
3. The chasm between visible reality and claims by
state media regarding the IRI’s abilities, popularity, honesty or achievements.
4. Three plus years of police state behavior.
5. Foreign policies tailored to make enemies and
create deep mistrust of the sort that makes the prospect of a nuclear-armed IRI
unthinkable.
6. Sanctions, isolation and pariah status resulting
from the above behavior.
7. Public mistrust of the regime, solidified irreversibly
by events since since 2009.
