I didn't intend to compare Iran to developed countries, but when you specifically restrict the comparison to the Western world, that happens naturally. If you want to extend the scope of comparison, let me remind you that all of these tiny Sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf region were developing nations like us. South Korea was a developing nation too. China is still a developing nation. Why don't you compare Tehran to Beijing, Seoul, Doha, Dubai, etc.? Compare Kish Island to Dubai, for example.
Out of respect for Raghfarm007's request not to respond in the Tehran video thread, I will continue here.
I don't believe it is fair to engage him like that. Those who have followed him for years know that he has defended Iran online against actually hostile elements. One can have stark differences of opinion, but as long as there is no treason nor flirting with treasonous ideas involved, then it doesn't warrant aggressivity. Overestimating Iran's position, if that is what you are faulting him for, is no treason. Anyway. I gave you my two cents, and will leave it at that.
Now as for the comparisons between cities. New York is the main urban center of the wealthiest economy of the world. That its subway system was first launched over a hundred years ago is true, but this in no way legitimizes its current state. Afterall, it's not as if there wasn't enough money circulating in the US to fix it. But the money lands in the pockets of the 1% of cut-throat capitalists, which is further evidence of the American ruling class's indifference towards the plight of their people. It is in fact an utter insult to ordinary American citizens. The examples you gave of Moscow's and St. Petersburg's metro systems are proof that age should not matter in this regard.
Dubai and Doha do not exactly offer fair objects of comparison either. Simply because the amount of oil and/or gas the UAE and Qatar export or have exported per capita is on a completely different scale than Iran (i. e. severalfold superior). So yes, they will buy themselves glitzy skyscrapers, urban services and planning, as well as hyper-modern looking metro systems - all from foreign and particularly western corporations, since they are vassal regimes.
However, what about their industrial backbone, even compared to another tiny but more successful country like the city-state of Singapore (if we want to stick to countries of comparable size)? What about their human development, whose growth rate from 1980 to 2013 (at least) has lagged behind Iran's? Plus, Iran enjoys its sovereignty and independence to the fullest, they do not.
And even then, the Tehran metro system, with its six active inner-city lines (although line 6 is still in a very partial stage of operation) on top of a suburban commuter line and between four to six regional train lines, is far more developed in terms of network length and density than either the Doha or the Dubai metro.
There are close to 150 developing countries, picking south Korea from the lot, i. e. one out of only a handful to have succesfully transitioned to a developed economy, will not change the fact that Iran has done better than the bulk of the rest, particularly oil-exporting ones. Oil is not an opportunity, it is an impediment to both economic / industrial, and to human development. Also, the fact will remain that south Korea does not have genuine independence, while Iran does.