Rafsanjani

It is rather indubitable that in the case of bad protagonist the US (and EU) invariable pick the worst.  This is true of every conflict since WWII.  The same true about US and EU stances towards Iran: the Iranian regime is lousy but US and EU favor the worst elements in the regime--the most corrupt.  Rafsanjani was one of the most corrupt and most opportunist elements of the regime and for that he is favored by US and EU.  Remember during the Cold War?  US and EU favored the Romanian dictator, Ceaușescu, and they even referred to him as a reformer.