What if someone moderate took over in the Iranian Revolution, like Montazeri, what kind of Iran would that be?
historybuff
Very likely vastly different, although he would have to overcome the religious reactionaries who basically overthrew the revolution. Could be a danger of them proving a terrorist threat or even managing to gain power some time down the line.
Also it shouldn't be forgotten that there was a significant communist/redical element in Iran at the time. After Khomani's group took over they formed the main opposition with a fair number of bomb attacks and the like up until Sadam attacked when I think they got side-lined by patriotic feeling. If moderates stay in charge, given the situation in the wider cold-war [just having the invasion of Afghanistan a few months later] the government could well be under attack from two sides.
However if it could have come through and had a period of stability, also reducing the level of corruption, Iran could be pretty prosperous now. Highly unlikely Sadam would have risked anything so no ruinous war with Iraq. Avoiding 30+ years of isolation, brutality and deep corruption.
Steve