You think the US government is on par with Iran for religious insanity? You think a raw number of churches per ME country carries some meaning? There are a lot of well meaning folks who just cannot fathom the radically different mindsets that exist in this world of ours. Learn about 12er Shia.
You think they are rational actors? Look at how they have acted and are acting. What drives them to base their national policy around international terror and trying to crush a tiny ass nation 1000mi away with two multiple countries inbetween? It ain't cuz the Izzies started shit with them. Their nuclear ambitions aren't about security except in as much as it gives them a free hand to be an aggressor. It is absolutely about religious fervor whether it is at the level of believing they should lead and dominate the Islamic world, or wipe it clean of infidels, or trigger the end times to end the occultation and fulfil the prophecy of the Mahdi.