Hades, you mean Iran, right. And, no, Iran is not a democracy. The elected officials do not have final control. The person(s) with real power in Iran were not elected.
At best its a very limited democracy, at worse their elections are just a cover up to pretend theya re a demcoracy when in relaity Iran is a dictatorship.
As for this 'cutting off oil' balony; the US would be able to survive just fine without Iran's oil. There are other Middle East and non Middle East nations more than willing to sell oil to the US. I say the US and friends should call Iran on its bluff. Remember, Iran doesn't sell oil to the US out of friendship. They've been enemies for decades. So, why have they been selling oil to the US? Money. Iran's economy needs money from oil, and not too many other countries use oil as much as the US does so they would be shooting the horse that feeds him. And, no, China isn't a good altenrative at the moment. Maybe in the future.