I notice that you refer to each of these states as "used to" etc. How about now. Hezbollah has effectively taken over Lebanon as a proxy for Iran. Iraq was under the thumb of a brutal dictator. Ditto for Syria. There is no religious freedom or tolerance in SA. I assume that in using Iran as a model for equal rights etc. it is an attempt at humor and it is pretty funny.
All those states are in sad shape today, they had issues before but since the invasions they are basketcases.
Lebanon just had their leader kidnapped by the Saudis, to pressure Hezbollah.
Hezbollah only exists because Israel invaded.
Iraq is a failed state with a corrupt puppet government.
Ditto for Afghanistan.
Syria became the playground for a handful of states and groups, its a failed state now under Russian patronage.
Assad and Saddam were brutal dictators, but the people of those countries were way better off under them then they are now.
Iran is a theocracy, with major issues but they are at least becoming more moderate. Comparatively.