Inside view from an Iranian-US citizenr ecently returned from a viit to family in Tehran:

1. The economy is a madhouse with individual eggs selling for $20, although gas is cheap at $1/gal.
2. No-one seems to have any faith in the President or his government.
3. There is no unity of voice or decision and no central decision authority between President, Ayatollah, Prime Minister and other branches. So they woffle and dispute and contradict each other a lot.
4. The city is terrorized by crime with multiple doors on every home and poeple taking their sereos out of their cars even if just going away for an hour, for fear the car will be stripped on their return.
5. He says as far as he can see the hunger is wide spread and not limited to Tehran.

It does sound like this is a powerful nation standing up to the bullying of the international community to me.

A