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Thats my point on why Jihadists/Salafists/extremists are different from the Iranian government. One acts on that hadith in every case possible, the other takes it as just one factor of many in the course of statecraft.
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I don't believe anyone will argue that there are differences in form between the two. It's the substance that is not different. I believe these similarities extend to their goals.
I get the impression that you are suggesting that there are different methods which can be used in addressing both. The Iranians are constantly talking about negotiations, yet they have not seemingly altered there progress towards obtaining nuclear weapons or expansion in the the middle east. I believe the appearance of the Iranians being open to negotiation is an allusion, a carefully crafted one at that.
The four US military men who were recently abducted and executed were most likely the victims of Iranians. Yes, the Iranians did not execute the British sailors, but that was because it did not suit their goals. However, they can be ruthless if they believe it is required or if it cannot be publicly verified. I believe the Al Queda types don't always execute their hostages either if receiving a ransom better meets their short term goals. Why?
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But unlike the "free range jihadist" or "free range insurgent" that are hard to find and kill we know where the command and control of iran is, most of the time. Hence their display of compassion and "playing" of the brinkmanship game. They are not going to execute anyone on the public stage, not yet.
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TR hits the nail on the head here. You attribute their seemly restraint to compassion or what? Wanting to be a good nation in standing? Tell that to the families whose sons have been killed by Iranian supplied IED's or by Iranian trained snipers.
Instead of focusing on methodology, let's focus on the goals of both the Iranians and the radical sunni insurgents: They both want to control the middle east and ultimately the World. They methods use are just different because they occupy different strategic and tactical positions.
The threshold question is still: Are we at war with islam?