Your concern about your homeland turning into another Syria is totally valid, and I respect that. It’s always smart to stay cautious and not underestimate potential threats. I also agree that Iran having nukes as a deterrent makes sense. But the situation is very different, and here’s why:
When ISIS and Sunni tribes kicked out the corrupt and incompetent Iraqi military at that time, it wasn’t because ISIS was super powerful—it was because the Iraqi system was a mess. The military was full of treasonous, quota-based officers who bailed the second things got tough, especially in Sunni-majority areas like Mosul. These areas already hated the Shia-led government because of Saddam’s downfall and other sectarian BS, so they didn’t resist ISIS. Locals didn’t just tolerate them; they welcomed them.
Now, compare that to Shia-majority cities in Iraq. Even when the military was in shambles and didn’t have basic stuff like fighter jets or drones, ISIS couldn’t take a single Shia city. Why? Because the people actually fought back. You had teenagers and old men with hunting rifles defending their homes. That level of resistance doesn’t happen unless the locals absolutely refuse to let outsiders in.
Iran’s situation is even more unified. Most major cities are populated by people who share the same religion, language, and culture. Genuine question: would an Iranian who’s critical or outright hates the government really let Sunni Baloch extremists into their city knowing they might start raping and beheading their families, friends, colleagues and neighbors? Highly doubtful.
The only places where I could see some kind of collapse happening are in Baloch or Kurdish regions. But even then, it wouldn’t last long. The Iranian government and military have way too much manpower and resources to let something like that spiral out of control.
Yes, Iran has its flaws, and there are definitely spies and traitors, but the country still has a strong sense of national unity and relatively solid institutions. Sure, enemies could try to stir up trouble in Sunni-majority areas, and they might succeed in causing some chaos. But in my opinion Iran’s more than capable of handling those kinds of threats.
