Despite massive protests, economic collapse, and American air attacks, the government survives because of the continuing loyalty of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) security forces, intact political institutions, and lack of an armed and organized opposition. Iranian armed forces, except for the IRGC, don’t exist. The nuclear program is damaged and moribund. Missile supplies are nearly exhausted, and weapons production is disabled and in disarray. Iran-supported foreign groups like Hezbollah and Hamas continue to be attacked and weakened, though the Houthi group in Yemen remains active. Aside from Russia, there are no effective foreign allies. Capabilities have been degraded, proxy networks weakened, and regional alliances fractured. National and local governments barely survive, improvising new internal trade networks, learning to cope with rapidly rising inflation, and maintaining sanctions-evasion systems under increasing pressure. The government’s capacity to govern crises is limited because local officials are often absent, having fled to safer areas or even outside Iran.

The Iranian policy is still no surrender and lots of threats, followed by missiles and drones fired at neighbors and American warships in the Persian Gulf. This is not a stable way to run a theocracy like Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei is apparently unable to lead, and a cabal of officials is trying to guide the nation somewhere, but no one in Iran seems to know where. The Iranian people are hungry, frightened, and desperate. The economy has fallen apart, and civilians are getting by on less food as prices keep increasing and incomes slowly decline.

A solution exists, but it requires cooperation from the American and Israeli governments. Israel has a network of operatives inside Iran that has been there for decades. If Israel and the United States cooperate, Iran can be released from theocratic rule and transformed into a democracy. The Iranian people have given up on Islam (less than 50% attend mosques) and hate their brutal and corrupt regime. It won’t be easy, but there is no acceptable alternative. The American president must, as his predecessor Franklin Roosevelt did concerning Germany and Japan during World War II, demand and obtain unconditional surrender. Iran is not a threat on that scale, but it has been a problem for the United States and its European and Middle Eastern allies since 1979, the year of the Islamic revolution in Iran. This was the example needed to encourage Islamic terrorism worldwide.

To turn theocratic Iran into democratic Persia, we must insist on obtaining, by any means necessary, unconditional surrender from the current Iranian government. The American military and civilian officials know what that entails and must do whatever it takes to make it happen.

Then, when Iran is occupied, institute a militia system, like that used in Switzerland. At the same time, insist on Iran adopting the American Bill of Rights. That includes freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms. Issue a weapon to every male or female head of household. Most of these will be assault rifles, but pistols can be given out as well. Provide weapons training for those who need or request it.

What happens to the IRGC? Dissolve and suppress it using whatever means are available. What about religious leaders? Arrest them and hold them for trial. They will be charged for all the crimes they committed or caused to be committed. That’s a long list. If Iranians wish to revive the death penalty, it will save a lot of time and money and give many Iranians the justice they never thought they would see. The Muslim Imams, or religious leaders, would also be arrested and examined to see who committed crimes against Iranians or foreigners.

Once implemented, these measures would end the economic sanctions against Iran and allow foreign trade. This would bring many exiled Iranians home, including the descendants of Iranian Jews. As it was before 1979, Iran and Israel would once more have diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations. Free, unrestricted Internet access would reconnect Iranians with the world.

While this may sound impossible and outrageous to some, it isn’t. If good men and women do the right thing to the best of their ability, all this will happen. Many will oppose these measures. They must be ignored and not allowed to interfere with the work of making Iran a free and equitable nation to do business with.

James F Dunnigan