Those who claim to have come to know more about Iran based on few pics in this thread are doing great injustice to Iran and more so to their own intellect.
Oh my dear posters, Iranian nation is one of the oldest in the region if not the world. Even though these pictures are nice, but Iran doesn't need these pictures to prove anything. Just read some about Iran and marvel at their qualities. Here are some (only a small subset dare I say).
1. Iranians have strong sense of nationalism (severely lacking in Pakistanis),
2. They have an excellent trend in both arts and science. iranians have produced darn good mathematicians on one hand, and movie producers on the other. Very few countries in the region can claim this.
3. Iranian movie scene puts Bollywood to shame, it is like comparing a dish by French chef, with aloo-anda served in an Indian/pak road-side dhaba. A fine wine with moonshine etc. I mean there is no comparison. period.
4. Iranian language is so sweet that it exudes honey soaked culture. Compare that to Arabic spoken in the Gulf and Saudi or Egypt, or Telegu spoken in Andra and your ears will split open.
So what went wrong?
Well Iranians lost big time and still losing hugely due to many factors. Few are listed here.
1. Shah was replaced by even worst regime (out of frying pan into the fire). But sadly Iranians accept all those Mullahs in the name of Islam. That's terrible.
2. Majority of Iranians are totally ignorant of how Iranian regime supports militancy and terror in so many countries around the world but especially in the region and in the Middle East. Supporting Shias militants in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq may be OK as they are next door, but supporting distant terror in Lebanon. That's pathetic. Simply pathetic.
3. Going nutz on nuclear. That's a huge price to pay in return of what? Few kilos of enriched Uranium. To do what? Eat it? Just see what Pakistanis lost when we so $tupidly exploded the few firecrackers. Now the whole Pakistan is eating grass (so aptly promised by none other than $tupid Bhattoo).
The bottom line is simple!
If at some point Iranian civilization is successful in getting rid of the Ayatullah yoke, you will see true potential of the beautiful people of this wonderful country. It will be mighty tough.
What happened to Green movement clearly shows that Iranian regime will be no less brutal that Syria's Asad, or Libya's Gaddafi.
May God help the wonderful country called Iran.
peace