This glosses over the historical context of the Iranian revolution. Iran's leftist, democratically-elected prime minister (who nationalized the oil fields in 1951 that were originally taken by British Petroleum) was overthrown for a West-backed dictatorship in Iran in 1953 that lead to the mass killings of leftists and pro-democracy advocates. The 1979 revolution led to the restoration of elections.

Good writeup here: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690363402/how-the-cia-overthr...

"The 1979 revolution led to the restoration of elections."

Elections where candidates are extensively vetoed by the clergy before being allowed (or not) to run. Even if the population wanted to reduce the role of religion in politics, it isn't allowed to elect people whom the clergy deems too secular.

“Restoration of elections” in the same sense as Russia’s elections.

I thought that the former Soviet countries were more moderate Muslims.

Generally yes, but it has been a long time since 1990 and no corner of the Sunni world was entirely spared from Wahhabi influence, which brings radicalism.

You do not need 51 per cent of jihadis to have serious problems. 10 per cent is probably destabilizing enough.

The ones in Central Asia, yeah.

That is a rather simplistic take on things in my opinion.