they have done a lot indeed. they have kept their country together
that said, in my opinion they have suffered a lot diplomatically and economically due to draconian sanctions and their aggressive foreign policy and less than impressive international relations didn't help them much specially some careless comments from their leadership just gave their opponents an excuse to keep them under sanctions and international scrutiny.
a smarter diplomacy with the west re nuclear deal can really help Iran come back to the "international fold" and will be a real kick in the teeth of their Jewish/ Arab alliance which is pressurising America to launch a raid on their nuclear sites.
all of above is actually off topic and takes us away from the dedication and hard work of Iranian technicians, engineers and scientists I will like to see them shine once their leadership sorts out its international standing.
Although I agree with most of your remarks here but... there are buts...
1- If you know Iranian people by nature you realize immediately that Iranians are a very very proud nation... they can not forget what other countries did to us... The list of American and Western and Arabic backstabbing incident are a long list in last let's say 60 to 80 years and still happening... Iranians never seen good from West but their efforts to destroy Iran, shot Iranian elected governments, supporting our enemy and invader of our land with all they have, shutting down civilian aircrafts, Helping Saddam with whatever they had...from sinking Iranian ships and satellite info to chemical weapons that were used to kill thousands and thousands of innocent Iranians.... All Iranian reactions was a small one comparing to what they did... If you see history you see that Iranian took US embassy because it was the commanding center to crash and order to kill Iranians who no more wanted Shah slave regime... If you read about what have been found in US embassy in Tehran despite their efforts to destroy the evidence, you would be shocked of the level of bad US did to us.... so although I agree Iranian foreign policy can be milder but at the same time it is a reflection of internal demands somehow...
2- Iranian foreign policy is very suceccful.... you can see it by Iranian position in 1980 and now... This world is a jungle... nobody recognises you and your interests unless you force them too... this was the case with all other super powers in their way to being superpowers...
3- Iran has no problem with having normal relations with West... We people in Iran understand this too... but if you review Western demands... you figure immediately that they want us to change our government...install someone pro-western...and do whatever they say.... I,m sorry for West but they didn't know us Iranians... we rather die of starve than being other puppets...this was the reason behind Islamic revolution.... Nuclear issues for example.... why an occupier like Israel have the right to have hundreds of nukes ready to fire and do whatever it wants and yet their leaders call Iran to abandon its non-existing bombs!!! It is very simple for Iranians..everybody knows that when something is called HARAM so firm by our leader it means we don't want nukes...but for other usage fields of nuclear tech, I,m sorry... nobody in world can tell us what to do....
4- I guarantee you... Iran is number one fan of destroying all nukes anywhere in world...but think for moment... if some countries have the right to have nukes why should not others??
5- Iranian foreign policy toward bullies in world is working... you see Iranian position despite 36 years of sanctions... Sanctions hurt and it is illegal...but as world understood it in 36 years... Iranian won't leave their beliefs and religion and culture and supporting weaker nations because of sanctions...
6- despite all these, I guess Iranians would benefit from free relations with west... only if...only if...they recognize us the way we are... from a mutual stand of respect... other than this, I see no reconciliation ever...