Ref `Dangerous place, dangerous people'.
Perhaps partially true, but I've had the privilge of flying with several Iranian expats, who were to a man, gentlemen, and fine pilots to boot (Same goes for the Iraqis).
I also spent many years overflying and found the ATC, given the poor equipment and terrain-related reception problems, to be competent, efficient, helpful and polite.
What struck me most was the R/T discipline, with domestics hopping around in the lower levels, and even the military C130's etc, using excellent English in their ATC Comms.
Some of the more `advanced' EU countries could perhaps learn a lesson here?
