Iran’s imperialism is both internal and external. Around half of the country in terms of both land and people are ethnic minorities who want independence. This includes Kurdistan, Baluchistan, Iranian Azerbaijan, and the Arabs in Khuzestan all have major separatist movements. So on top of funding, arming, and supporting terrorist proxy groups all over the middle east, they’re also occupying these nations by force kind of like what China is doing with Tibet or Russia with Chechnya.

Of course, they’re also oppressing the Persian majority as well, but these people see Iran as their country similar to how Russians see Russia as theirs even though they’re against the regime.