Idiots will think idiot things. It does not surprise me that they will sooner die than abandon delusions of becoming an honorary white vassal.
The problem is that Iran just got their largest "no" shattered.
After Iran-Iraq war, they've got a huge trauma for conflict going again on Homeland.
Israel now handled them just that - and the issue is that Iran, submissive or not, isn't really eligible to not be bombed by Israel.
Their "right" (which no US ally in the region really has) was based on their air defense and rocket force.
And they managed to lose much of both. Which is beyond criminal level of neglected by leadership, which asked a lot from population to not let happen that just happenned; it was their main selling point.
Otherwise, they're not exactly good at giving their people comfortable lives.
I.e. there are just no good ways out, as Iran has problems with allies, too.