"If you want to defend the people of Iran (which is what we have been doing), do so based on principles and not based on some realpolitik knee-jerk, bankrupt Cold War mentality that ends you up in bed with reactionaries."
Yes, but reading this conjures up the through-the-looking-glass-world-problem that Lenin wrote about in 'Nascent Trends of Imperialist Economism' (here I go to 'Pseud's Corner').
The Iranian socialist might be right about policy in Iran, but in (the UK as in) the US, the proper position is that the Iranian state has a right to develop such energy sources (and defences) as it sees fit.
The way that the (British and) American people can earn the respect of the Iranian people is by limiting our government's sabre-rattling. That would help us to develop an independent political line from the establishment, and it would take the pressure of Iran - as well as undermining the Iranian government's appeal to a cross-class social solidarity in the face of US gunships.
The Iranian socialist's appeal is well made if it is addressed to Iranians, but it means a different thing if it is read by liberals here who are uncomfortable defending the sovereign rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran.