Acting like Persians

Mattis says Iran regime is 'trying to craft a foreign policy that pushes others around'

Wiki says:

The Persian Empire (Persian: شاهنشاهی ایران‎, translit. Šâhanšâhiye Irân, lit. 'Imperial Iran') refers to a series of imperial dynasties that were centred in Persia/Iran from the 6th century BC Achaemenid Empire era to the 20th century AD in the Qajar dynasty era.

Who wold we rather do the pushing? Here is the ancient map:

 Who would we rather have as a buffer? I say Iran is the natural pusher arounder in the middle east, but they have to live with the zionists.