There is much more equivalency between a dissent crushing nation like Iran, and the tactics big-corp have been utilizing to crush dissenting opinions.

You can definitely go in jail for going against big oil:

For example, environmental lawyer Steven Donzinger was placed under arrest for exposing the crimes against the planet of big oil: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions/environmental-lawy...

You can also be financially ruined: https://climatebase.org/blog/greenpeace-slapped-by-big-oil-s...

You, a scientist, can also be deported for your views if they don't align with the state's false narrative: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/11/mahmoud-khal...

You can even get some death threats for doing your job by debunking disinformation: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/03/anth...

I'd say it's pretty good whataboutism, the parallels are more than enough. Iran was a progressive country with flourishing science before nationalistic/religious fundamentalists took over, sadly the US taking its first steps on the same path.