This description definitely describes the Assad government, which doesn't even make a pretense of committing atrocities for any reason other than to make the population subservient to one person, Mr. Assad.
Iran incorporates religion into its government in a more pervasive way. Why don't you study and think about the reasons that the Iranian government gives for its decisions, and consider how to approach that government on the basis of its own reasoning, even if you don't agree with it? If you can distill the Iranian government's major goals and place them in a framework for discussion, you will at least be utilizing a respectful method, which most people appreciate.
Nobody likes to hear "This is what we want; do it or else," as far as I know. You have many more years of negotiating experience than I do; if you have anecdotes you'd like to share at Twitter of people leaping up to do what you want when you tell them that, I'll concede the point.
