Yeah... you don't know what you're talking about. Carter focused heavily on human rights early in his administration and put pressure on the Shah to deal with his citizens fairly. While the Shah didn't necessarily follow that advice, he was happy to make public concessions, which is largely what emboldened the revolutionaries (as evidenced by Carter's speech). Both Kennedy AND Carter had a similar foreign policy in that regard, and the result was the same. The conservatives didn't push that narrative and the Shah had better control of his people, despite being cruel to anyone that opposed him, which admittedly sucks. Sometimes an area needs a strong man. Carter also believed that Khomeini would be an ally if he could return to Iran and prevent civil war. Whoops. Oh, and it turns out he was a strong man that tortured citizens who opposed him. Great progress was made.

Even still, Carter continued the arms sales to Iran (gotta keep the MIC happy, am i rite?). He played both sides of the fence and goofed at every turn... well, that is except for making arms dealers richer.

---