And most of those leave if they can, just like the most affluent Cubans got out.
It's the same problem, because in both cases the US is offering the same deal: if you want peace with the US, all you have to do is change your entire system of government so that all the people who are currently in power have no power, and people who currently have no power but that the US likes more (or who have good lobbyists/business connections in the US) are in charge. We are asking the people who are in charge to sign a warrant for their own downfall and impoverishment at best, exile or death at worst. So the people in charge are never going to make that deal.
So then the argument is, well, we'll put so much pressure on them that the society will crack and they'll have a rebellion and put someone better in place. Only a few problems with that: 1. Broken dysfunctional societies don't tend to end up being led by George Washington types even if there is a rebellion. Examples: Egypt, Russia (I understand that Sailor may think that Putin is a great leader, but that's not the consensus view). 2a. More likely outcome is long term civil war, resulting in massive human suffering. Examples: Libya, Syria. or 2b. the rebellion fails, and the tyrant tightens his grip. Example: Turkey. 3. There's little evidence that the US is actually capable of making this happen. Examples: Cuba since 1950, Iran since 1979. 4. The actual outcome is just a lot of human suffering in the name of regime change.
Obama's foreign policy left a lot to be desired, but with respect to Iran he operated within the realm of what was realistically possible. He got a deal to keep the Middle East from going nuclear, and did it with minimum human suffering (no wars or rebellions to get that result). And it was working just fine for the purpose intended until President Cheeto blew it up because he can't stand the sight of anything Obama did, and can't get over Iran dissing the US by taking hostages in 1980 (or dissing him on Twitter, for that matter). So now we're back to maximum human suffering for minimum results.
Nah, it will work this time. Just like trickle down.