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Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority nominally vested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987-1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement. Following the elections of a reformist president and Majlis in the late 1990s, attempts to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction have floundered as conservative politicians have prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased repressive measures, and consolidated their control over the government.

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By kirstent
October 4th 2008

Scarfed up and frocked up in Iran

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Scarfs and Bling

Well we are now in Tehran. We camped one night after crossing the border from Turkmenistan and then had an 18 hr drive to get into Tehran the following day. Tehran has been great - a very modern city where we visited the Palace, the "Den of Espionage' (the old US Embassy), the National Museum and the Jewels Museum - really enjoyed it all. We boutght black cotton in Ashgabat and borrowed long shirts from the boys to make our way over the border. Since then we have bought black headscarves and mantous (thigh length coats) to get around in. Some [View Full Entry]

One of the murals on the wall of the Den of Espionage

By inchallah
July 15th 2008

1st episod : Iran

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

1er jour à Téhéran
Accompagnés de Negar (qui prend la photo), Moshan et sa copine Farzane, nous sommes partis visités la ville dont l'ancien palais du shah d'où la photo est prise.

Début du voyage Inch Allah II, la farik est de retour ! Ca y est c'est parti, équipés de nos deux petits sacs rouges de rando, une quinzaine de kgs d'équipement à nous 2, nous voilà partis pour affronter la longue route qui nous conduira à Jérusalem, destination mystique de tous les voyageurs depuis bien des millénaires. Notre point de départ : l'Iran, pays magique des mille et une nuits, fameuse contrée de Prince of Persia. Si nous avons choisi ce pays comme point de départ, c'est grâce à tout ce que nous avons entendu sur lui, et parce qu'il entrait [View Full Entry]

By Or G
July 1st 2008

Today!!

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Tehran

Hello there... So yeah, i've signed up at this travel-blog so as to jot down thoughts and stuff about the places i visit and the thoughts that fly into my mind. Well.. for the past few weeks i have been in Tehran : to visit family, frinds and to enjoy the great weather and sights. i was supposed to visit persepolis this week but plans changed and this will be my itinary for this summer: Tehran-Dubai Dubai-Beirut Beirut-Dubai Dubai-Frankfurt Frankfurt -through Europe for a week Frankfurt-Los Angeles Los Angeles - Vancouver/Toronto Canada-Los Angeles Los Angeles-frankfurt Fra [View Full Entry]

By Medb
June 14th 2008

At the airport in Tehran, waiting to head home

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Seriously, insanely long journey. Left hotel 5.20am local time, now 9.15pm local time and still not even time to check in. Got as far as Tehran without incident, but then getting to the airport was stressful in the extreme, and a major rip off. Still, here we are, ensconced in aircon with internet access and a snack stall to spend our last rials. Earlier . . . Saw Narjes for lunch on 11th, and dinner on 12th. Stayed with her at her uni accommodation on 12th. Had my fortune told (very good actually!), tried Iranian pizza (amazingly bad), watched the Keira [View Full Entry]

By Medb
June 1st 2008

Day 2 - Tehran and travel plans

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Well, we've made it in one piece. Journey out with Air France went smoothly, and immigration was much quicker than last time - we landed at the new airport, which looks good. A driver from Firouzeh Hotel picked us up. The hotel is ok - clean (enough), cheap (240,000 per night for the twin room including breakfast) with an en suite shower though toilets are shared, and mostly squat. The manager/receptionist has been extremely helpful, booking our train tickets, next hotel etc. Our lack of pre-planning has hit us slightly, as we appear to have arrived j [View Full Entry]

By Sojourns
May 30th 2008

Revealing The Secret City

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Heralding Spring
Lavendar bundles drape city walls

We are the flute, our music is all Thine; We are the mountains echoing only Thee; And movest to defeat or victory; Lions emblazoned high on flags unfurled- They wind invisible sweeps us through the world. -Rumi, The Unseen Power Hidden from the West behind a curtain of contemporary politics lies a land of indescibable beauty. To draw back that curtain is to enter into a palace of splendor, where chivalry echos through the palaces and statues, where snow-capped mountains breath crisp life into the air of the city. This is the land of the mystic poets, Hafiz and Rumi. This [View Full Entry]

By simjam
December 11th 2007

Sacred Fires, Assassins & The Great Satan

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Interior of the Imam Mosque, Esfahan

Well, we’re back from a brief sojourn again to the north-east in the small town of Qazvin, a previous capital and apparently the butt of all Iranian homosexuality jokes. Although I must say that the women here are among the most attractive that we’ve come across thus far, so I reckon that the fellas here play along with it to keep them all for themselves… We finished our time in Zanjan with a trip to Takht-e-Soleiman, an age-old ruin and one of the most important of the Zoroastrian fire temples, secluded away in the towering mountains to the south. There were [View Full Entry]

Looking out over the Imam Square in Esfahan

By navid
October 15th 2007

North Tehran to Shush: Motor cycle tour.

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

N Tehran
Occasional rainly night, vali asr ave.

One day I was walking around in Tajrish Square, north Tehran, looking for things to do. Started flirting with the idea of riding with one of these crazy motorcycle taxi guys. So started hustling with one of them to get the cheapest rate. He was a very pleasant fellow, whom I began to like. After we agreed on the price, he gave a me a tour of rich neighborhoods of north Tehran. Moshtaba is a 24 year old migrant from Borjnurd, small town in Khorasan, north east Iran. When I asked him if ever any of those pretty Tehrani girls get [View Full Entry]

By navid
October 8th 2007

Dillema of Modern Tehran

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

North central Tehran, skyline

Brief History and city layout First thing I get asked by poeple here is what I think has changed in the past 27 years. First things that comes to mind is is that there are twice the number of poeple in the country, (times 4 in the capital), and twcie the number of cars. I leave the rest up to you to imaginge how things have changed. Modern Tehran has never been a historical town. The original Tehran which was made Capital by the Qajars a century a two ago was confined the central and southern parts of the city which [View Full Entry]

By navid
October 6th 2007

An excursion into the Alborz mountains (Demovend Peak)

Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran

Demovend Peak
Picture taken enroute, from the demonvend, or Firoozkooh road, one of the main three roads crossing the Alborz to the Caspian Basin.

Day 4 Tehran to Demavend. The Demavend peak is a spectacular site to watch. On clear days it is easily seen in the Tehran's northeastern skyline. It stands above 18000 feet and even in this latitude and beginning of the fall it is covered with snow. It is a cone shaped structure and is an active volcano. It is a about 60 km north east of Tehran and the road that takes you there cuts though the Alborz mountains which is quite scenic. Huge barren mountains surround the road on every side. There are countless small villages and settlements along the [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Middle East » Iran » North » Tehran