It's just complete ignorance of the Iranian political system and at some level, a buy-in on the media's relentless anti-Iranian propaganda.

Far be it from me to defend a theocracy, or Mullahs, but...wait, I won't they're horrible.

However, Iran's theocracy is far less insidious than the Gulf Monarchies, so I guess it's better by default?

Oh, and no candidate is allowed to run unless they are signed off on by the Ayatollah, so there's that caveat as well.