A lot of officials imagine Iran to be some diplomatic problem that can be solved if only we found a magic formula of incentives and, failing that, more incentives. To understand the spirit of the society, it can be useful to see how it deals with its own history. Tehran’s strategy: Censor and re-write. The following is an Iranian news agency report of a conference commemorating the 100th anniversary of Iran’s constitutional revolution, itself influenced by the 1905 Russian Revolution.

IRNA, Aug. 5- Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel here on Saturday underlined the need to review events leading to the Constitutional Movement. Addressing a two-day scientific seminar marking the centenary of the Constitutional Movement which began work this morning, he called for re-writing of historical events leading to the framing of the constitution… He said the absence of wise, determined and powerful leaders such as the Father of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam Khomeini, was one of the problems faced by the country in the run-up to the Islamic Revolution.

The Constitutional Revolution succeeded because of a coalition of liberals, nationalists, and tribal elements. The religious clergy played only a minor role. What the Iranian regime proposes is the equivalent of Stalin airbrushing away photos of those out-of-favor. It also signals Tehran is preparing for another cultural revolution.