Remember, dictators are always at their weakest when they attempt to reform—the Shah. I don’t see any attempt by these Mullah thugs at reform, so this thing will go on for a while longer. Its just a question of how far down the country must go before they throw them off and move forward.
If the citizens in Iran were armed, it would already be over.
The oppressors are few in number, but they have control of the weapons.
It may not always be that way.
All it would take is for the defection of a few top level Mil Officers, and the game would change.