If the ayatollahs were completely in control, their man would have won the elections rather than moderate Rouhani (for a second term).

Watching the US try to "build" democracy from scratch I think tells us how important having a process in place is. The Iranians have a Parliament, seats reserved for Jews and Christians and women vote.  Before the CIA with UK complicity killed their last democratically elected leader, they were familiar with the process.

I stand by that, despite the religious component, as a far, far better place to encourage democracy than SA.  Even our "advanced" democracies have a party system and a bureaucracy to "control" elections.

(And the ayatollah's in Iran are pretty UnBloodthirsty, in comparison to US presidents for e.g. all of whom have invaded the lands of others.  The ayatollahs also openly disagree on whether or not is is admissible in Islam for Iran to have nuclear weapons.  And have invaded nobody.)

http://gwynnedyer.com/2017/preposterous-times/