Quote Originally Posted by Vladimir
Because to have done so against the Soviet Union would have deprived their leaders of their weapons and lives. Also because they're fascists: Strong state control and an ideal enemy to rally their people against.
Fascinating how you totally miss the point. The U.S. was hated in Iran as long as it suppored the Shah's regime. Therefore, like I said, the new regime cold capitalise on this hatred, thrive on it and make it a mainstay of its foreign policy. In your own words, it used the U.S. as an 'ideal' enemy.

This anti-American sentiment has now waned. Most Iranians are fed up with the regime and appreciate the fact that the U.S. consistently opposes it. Many more don't want war and expect their leadership to prevent it. A September 2002 poll commissioned by the Iranian National Security Committee found that 74 percent of Iranians favor resumption of relations with the United States and 46 percent feels that U.S. policies on Iran are 'to some extent correct'. The mullahs hated the poll. Two months later Abbas Abadi, a reformist, was arrested on a charge that he had been paid by Washington-based Gallup to manipulate the outcome.

Now if you bomb Iran, I am sure these numbers will collapse. Hatred on the rise, more attacks on the U.S. and oil at $250 a barrel. That would be your military solution. And a fine mess it would be.
Yes it can be annihilated by military means alone.
Well good luck, you're on mission impossible. Like some Lewis Carroll character who is surprised that wherever he pulls out plants, weeds return.