To be honest the argument works even if Iran was a democracy. Both governments doing evil stuff but only the citizens of one of those countries is absolved of blame. That alone should cause someone reasonable to pause and ask themselves if they're not being a bit ridiculous.

The fact that Iran is pretty authoritarian and undemocratic just makes the position even more absurd and drives the point home further.

The US is a democracy.

The common people are responsible for the actions of their government in a democracy.

The US killed 400+ Million people in the past two centuries.

Therefore I hate all Americans.

> The US killed 400+ Million people in the past two centuries.

I have trouble believing this is true by any definition that leaves any large group of people unhated.

i dont think thats really accurate. its theocratic and authoritarian, but its not a dictatorship and they have democratic elements

the candidates are approved by a religious board, but its got a full set of checks and balances and allows for liberalization. The reality is that given a panel of candidates Iranians have often voted for the conservative candidate

i get there is a large amount of liberally minded people in big cities that feel disenfranchised.. but i wouldnt be surprised if the government is still highly popular with the majority of people

Comparing it to North Korea or China is way to simplistic