I get what the article is saying but this makes Iran a democracy, as well as basically any country that has more than one party contesting an election
It’s an important aspect for sure. But a corporate board holding a vote doesn’t make a corporation a democracy. Who participates and how power is distributed matters.
Pros and cons all over the place with respect to an actual pure democracy versus a representative form of government. Do we really want the entire electorate to vote on every item? ( pure democracy). That said either is preferable to an autocracy, which sadly, some seem really keen to have.
"Of the people, by the people, and for the people" I recommend Dynamic Democracy. Dynamic Democracy It is a very educational read.